The cost of onions and farm eggs has seen a sharp rise in retail markets, with onions now selling for Tk 80–85 per kilogram—an increase of Tk 15–20 in just a few days. A dozen eggs has also become Tk 10 more expensive. Prices of most vegetables remain elevated compared to earlier weeks.

Retailers say onion supplies have tightened slightly, while demand for eggs has grown faster than supply, pushing up prices for both items.

In Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Town Hall Bazar, and Karwan Bazar, onions that were selling for Tk 60–65 per kg less than a week ago were going for Tk 80–85 per kg on Thursday. Traders blame the increase on a combination of factors: a portion of farmers’ stored onions spoiled this year, reducing available stock, while recent heavy rains disrupted transportation and supply.

The monsoon season has also driven up vegetable prices over the past two to three weeks. Green chilies, for example, were selling for Tk 180–200 per kg on Thursday, up from Tk 80–120 a month ago. Bitter gourd, snake gourd, and yardlong beans are around Tk 80 per kg, while imported tomatoes fetch Tk 140–150 per kg. Eggplants have climbed by Tk 20–30 per kg, now selling for Tk 100–120.

Egg prices have risen quickly as well. A dozen brown farm eggs now costs Tk 135–140 in Dhaka’s markets, up from Tk 120–125 just last week. Chicken prices, already high for the past three weeks, have also moved upward—broiler chicken now sells for Tk 170–180 per kg, while Sonali chicken is Tk 300–330 per kg, an increase of Tk 20–30.

Inflation Ticks Up After Four Months of Decline

Bangladesh’s overall inflation rate rose in July for the first time in four months, reaching 8.55 percent compared to 8.48 percent in June, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Thursday. Economists caution that prices could climb further during the monsoon and flood season.

The July figures show food inflation at 7.56 percent and non-food inflation at 9.38 percent, both higher than the previous month. Rising rice prices—up Tk 5–6 per kg in July—along with persistently high vegetable costs are among the main drivers.

Selim Raihan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), told Prothom Alo that the core market supply system is not functioning properly. He noted that seasonal disruptions caused by floods and heavy rain tend to create shortages of essential goods, putting additional upward pressure on prices.

Raihan stressed that the government must act quickly to stabilise supply and demand, warning that monetary policy measures alone—such as raising interest rates—will not be enough to contain inflation.