# Syndicate is fixing the egg price through text messages on cell phones
# Marginal farmers' grievances are aimed at the hawkers
# Illegally stored eggs are found in different districts
The egg market is again getting unstable in the country’s market. In the last one week, the price of a dozen eggs has increased by Tk 40 from 120 to 160. Brown eggs are now being sold at Tk 55 in the retail market. Accordingly, the price of an egg is Tk 13.75.
Meanwhile, buyers are expressing anger at such high prices of eggs. Asmat Ara, who came to market in Jatrabari area, said that the prices of fish and meat have increased so far. Now the price of eggs is also increasing. If the price of everything increases like this, we will have to go without buying anything.
On the other hand, traders said that egg production is disrupted due to excessive heat. Supply in the market has also decreased. As a result, the price of eggs is increasing.
There are two major wholesale markets for eggs in Dhaka. Tejgaon Railway Station is a wholesale egg market adjacent to Karwan Bazar. The other is Kaptanbazar of Old Dhaka.
Talking to the traders of these two markets, it was known that 100 brown eggs are being sold at Tk 1180 to 1 200 which was less than Tk 200 taka per dozen even a week ago.
Zahid, a grocer in Malibagh area, said, "I could not have imagined that the price of eggs would increase like this. Even a week ago I used to sell 30 to 40 dozen eggs every day. After the price increase, the sale of eggs also decreased. Now 15 to 20 dozen eggs are sold daily. Bringing eggs from the wholesale market is also less."
Besides, marginal farmers are blaming the Tejgaon landowners' syndicate for the anarchy in egg prices.
They said that a few days ago, the landlords reduced the price of eggs abnormally. The time the eggs are stored in the freezer. Now they are making profit by increasing the price. The syndicate controls the price of eggs through text messages on cell phones. Although 15 to 20 lakh eggs are sold daily in the markets of Dhaka, they control the market of 4 crore eggs sold across the country through short messages on mobile phones. Every day, the market price is informed by short message to the traders all over the country. They are now the largest syndicate in the egg market.
The complaint of marginal farmers is also found true about illegal egg storage. In the last two days, illegally stored eggs are coming out in various districts including Cumilla, Bogura, Madaripur and other districts of the country.
A mobile court raided Meghna Cold Storage located in Baral area of Lalmai Upazila in Cumilla on the basis of tip-off. During the operation, it was found that 21 lakh eggs have been stored illegally in the Meghna Cold Storage of that area. In the incident, the cold storage department was fined Tk 2 lakh. About 500,000 eggs were found stored in Afrin Cold Storage in Bogura. The mobile court fined the company Tk 20,000. Two traders have been fined for keeping 650,000 eggs in cold storage for a long time in Madaripur.
On the other hand, the market of fish, meat and vegetables is also upward. Indian onions are being sold at higher prices than before. A kg of raw chilli has crossed Tk 150 within a week which was earlier a maximum of Tk 1 hundred. Potatoes are being sold at Tk 55 to 60 per kg. Tk 50 to 60 taka per kg of ripe tomatoes are being sold depending on location. Papaya is Tk 80 to 90, brinjal is Tk 100. Bitter gourd is selling at Tk 50 to 60, Tk 40 to 50 of gourd, Tk 100 to 120 of barb and Tk 50 to 70 per kg of potal depending on quality and variety.
Visiting the various markets of the capital, such a picture was seen. Going to the meat market, it was seen that a kg of beef is Tk 750 to 800. Broiler chicken prices rose slightly this week, per kg is selling at Tk 220 to 230 depending on location, which was down by Tk 10-20 last week as well. Apart from this, golden and layer chickens are being sold at Tk 350 to Tk 390 per kg. The goat meat was seen to be sold at Tk 1100 to Tk 1200 as before.
Meanwhile, the price of fish is still high in the market during the week. The price of most of the fish in the market has not decreased much. It has been seen in the fish market that Rui fish is being sold at Tk 350 to Tk 400, Katla Tk 400 to Tk 450, Kalboush Tk 280, Tilapia Tk 250, Pabda Tk 540, Pangas Tk 200 and Hilsa fish at Tk 1500 to Tk 1600.
ZH
