Amid people paying through their noses for white meat, vegetable prices have now started to creep up in Dhaka kitchen markets with Ramadan just around the corner.

Low-income groups are particularly affected by the increasing cost of animal-based proteins such as eggs, fish, and meat, as vegetable price shocks are feared to add to their woes.

Consumer rights activists have called on the government to intensify market monitoring and prevent recurring price manipulation practices especially ahead of and during the month of fasting.

Last week saw yet another fresh hike in chicken and vegetable prices, further exacerbating the struggles of ordinary people in the run-up to Ramadan.

“Pakistani” or “Sonali” chickens, for instance, witnessed a Tk 30 per kg increase last week and were being sold at Tk 380-400 a kg on Thursday. Meanwhile, broiler chicken was at Tk 240-270 a kg, marking a Tk 10 increase in just the past couple of days.

Chicken prices have risen by 4.0%-5.0% in a week, 30% in a month, and 60% in the last two months, according to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

Broiler chicken is mostly consumed by low-income people and is widely used in restaurants and eateries. The cheap source of protein has been the latest casualty of pinching inflation, forcing many to cut back on their daily nutrition intake.

Faisal Ali, a chicken vendor in Mohammadpur, lamented that even broiler prices have increased by Tk 4,000-5,000 per 100 kg in just one month, while supply has also declined amid lower production at farms in faraway districts.

“Our sales have also declined amid such a rocketing price trend,” he said.

Abid Hossain, a poultry farm owner at Ghatail in Tangail, revealed that production costs have surged to above Tk 200 a kg, amid an 85% hike in feed prices and a decline in production at most farms.

Broiler feed’s minimum rate is now Tk 75 a kg, and Hossain believes that it would be hard to survive if feed prices continue to creep up.

On the vegetable front, cauliflower prices have shot up to Tk 50-60 per piece, while cabbage now costs Tk 40-50, brinjal is priced at Tk 60-80, and tomatoes cost Tk 50-60.

Bitter gourd, arum shoots, and green beans remained static, maintaining their previous highs of Tk 80-120 a kg. Snake gourd costs Tk 70-75, and pointed gourd Tk 70-80 a kg.

According to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain, prices of all cheaper protein items on which the poor mainly depend have shown a painful hike. As Ramadan approaches, it will be increasingly difficult for low-income groups to source broiler chicken, cultured fisheries, and eggs to meet their daily protein needs.

“The price uptrend in chicken is particularly harsh for those who are already struggling to afford pricey rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, and other essentials and utilities,” Hossain added.

He called for effective government measures to make animal feed prices cheaper and prevent the skyrocketing trend in poultry, fish, milk, and cattle meat markets.

In addition, CAB emphasised stricter market monitoring to prevent any artificial hikes before and during the fasting month.