The price of broiler chicken eggs in the markets around Dhaka have soared to tk 170-180 (Tk 14-15/piece) per dozen in a span of a week. Local chicken eggs are also being sold at Tk 220-230 per dozen in some places around the city. Market experts and people involved with the egg market say mismanagement in the market is responsible for such an instability in egg prices. Alam, president of Baridhara Notun Bazar Owners Association, told UNB, "I think the price of eggs is increasing repeatedly due to market mismanagement. Mismanagement of supply and lack of oversight are responsible for creating unstable conditions in the market. The reason behind such frequent surge in product prices should be identified.” Read: Eggs to be imported if required : Minister He said the concerned agency should play an effective role in controlling this frequent surge in price of products in the market. “Otherwise, the rate at which the price of eggs is increasing cannot be controlled,” Alam said. Nadeem, a customer at Gulshan kitchen market, told UNB that there is a weakness in the market monitoring system, as a result, the traders are increasing the price frequently. He also urged the concerned agency to take effective action in this regard. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA), an association of local farmers producing eggs and chickens, has called for coordination in the market management to ensure fairness of the price. BPA President Sumon Hawlader told UNB, "Monitoring of the market has to be strengthened. The price of egg and chicken should be adjusted at a reasonable rate keeping the cost of production in mind.” “In this way, market conditions will be normal. The government has to take steps to ensure that no syndicate can create instability. Otherwise, it will be difficult to control the price of eggs,” he said. According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) the price of broiler chicken eggs stood at Tk 140-150 per dozen last week, reflecting a significant 10 percent surge compared to the week before. Read: Hike in egg price: Consumer Rights Protection body realises Tk 10,000 in fine in Faridpur According to the Bangladesh Egg Producers Association, the country requires between 35 and 40 million eggs per day to meet demand. And the majority of the eggs are sourced from domestic producers. The Department of Livestock reports that over the last 10 fiscal years, the nation's egg production has more than doubled. The country produced 1,017 crores of eggs in 2013–14, and 2,338 crores of eggs in 2022–23. Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim told UNB, "According to the survey of our Livestock Department, it costs more than Tk 10.50 to produce an egg. Even If we take other costs and profit into consideration, it seems to me that the price of an egg should not be fixed at more than Tk 12.” “If Tk 12 per egg is set, the producers will benefit. Apart from this, if someone tries to create instability in the market, the authorities will take necessary action under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.” Read more: Egg prices jump by Tk30-35 per dozen, citing high production cost Regarding whether the ministry will fix the price, Rezaul Karim said, "It is not a matter of fixing the price. Earlier, in 2010, there was an issue of fixing the price of chicks. In that case, the court questioned whether the ministry could fix the price in this way.” Meanwhile, the government is also considering importing eggs from outside to bring stability to the egg market. Responding to a question regarding egg import, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said at an event on Sunday morning that the Commerce Ministry cannot import eggs without the cooperation of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. “The decision to import eggs will be taken only after the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock gives a green signal.” Read more: Efforts on to break syndicates behind essentials’ price hike :Commerce minister However, when asked about the commerce minister's statement, the livestock minister said, "We will consider the issue of importing eggs in a different way." “Whether the Commerce Ministry will consider this issue independently or not is up to them. I think, with the current production rate of eggs in the country, there will be no need for imports if we can ensure proper management of the market.” On fixing the price of eggs, the commerce minister said that if the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock decides the market price for eggs, then the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection will be conducting raids to ensure control of the price of eggs. With the egg market suddenly unstable, the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection are already conducting raids in various warehouses in the capital and imposing fines, he said. Read more: In the EU’s inflation crisis, the humble egg takes the cake

A high level of toxic chemical has been found in the cash receipts that customers get through machines at payment counters of restaurants, super shops and ATM booths, according to a study report released on Thursday. Bisphenol A affects not only the humans but environment, animals and plants as well, said the study by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in its new research report on "BPA in Receipt: Toxin in Finger" in a virtual event. The report said BPA, initially created as an estrogen supplement, has been linked to development problems in infants and children, and cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease in adults. Researchers said that BPA is broadly used as a plasticizer that is bound in polymers to make plastic bottles and food can liners and on thermal imaging paper used to print credit-card and cash register receipts, point-of-sale receipts, ATM receipts, prescription labels, airline tickets and other machine-generated receipts. According to this study the percentage availability of BPA in Cash Receipts is 0.08% - 3.7% by weight which is higher than the EU’s standard rate 0.02% by weight.   ESDO research team leader Dr. Shahriar Hossain said that thermal paper is usually used in cash register receipts in restaurants, food stores doing BPA contamination of food from fingers and hands.  He said BPA from thermal paper can be absorbed through the blood faster. At the levels measured in this study, many illnesses like diabetes and disorders like obesity can increase, he added.  The study revealed that BPA from receipts seeps into the skin, dramatically increasing the amount of BPA in the human body. And the hand disinfectant increased the absorption rate. Additionally, commonly used skin care products also appear to increase the rate of absorption of BPA, the researchers commented. ESDO research team assessed the situation through a baseline survey carried out from February 2019 to January 2020 on total 1350 people (Consumer and retailers) to assess public perception on Bisphenol-A (BPA) in thermal papers used in popular outlets in Bangladesh.  Besides, cash receipts have been collected from local shops (Fast food, super shop, restaurants, pharmacy, ATM etc.) and ATM booths of the surveyed areas by ESDO research team.  The laboratory tests of thermal papers found the presence of BPA in quantities ranging from 10 – 53 μg/cm2 where 0% of the population surveyed was aware of thermal paper containing BPA and its adverse effects.  Former Secretary and ESDO Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed, who presided over the session, said the current outlook is based on a review by the ESDO of numerous studies, as well as its in-depth research on BPA. He urged the government to work seriously on this subject,  while ESDO will assist the government in integrating the issue of BPA into regulations. Joint Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Keya Khan attended the event as special guest. She stated that as children and pregnant women are vulnerable to BPA, the health and environmental hazards needs to be assessed and regulated through proper monitoring. Additional Secretary of Health Service Division Enamul Haque of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appreciated the initiative and called for taking necessary steps to look for environmental friendly alternative immediately. ESDO Executive Director Siddika Sultanacalled for a proper waste segregation and management for BPA coated receipts to prevent BPA contamination of drinking water and food.  Director General of Department of Environment (DoE) expressed his concern over the issue while delivering his speech as chief guest. He said “The threat arising from BPA in receipts should not be overlooked.” He spoke of the need for formulating regulation to tackle the problem. Former Chairman of Department of Chemistry in the University of Dhaka Prof. Dr. Abu Jafar Mahmud,  , Former Chairman of Department of Chemistry in Jahangirnagar University Prof. Dr. Abul Hashem, Director of DOE Masud Iqbal  Shameem,  ,Project Coordinator of Environmental Intervention Unit, icddr,b  Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman also spoke at the programme.