Price Surge Sweeps Chittagong Commodity Markets, Soaring Vegetable, Fish, and Poultry Prices Panic Consumers.

JahangirAlam,​ Staff Reporter. ​Kitchen markets across the port city of Chittagong have witnessed a sudden and sharp price spike. Within a week, prices for almost all varieties of vegetables, fish, poultry, and eggs have surged simultaneously, leaving lower- and fixed-income households struggling under heavy financial strain. ​A spot check at major city hubs, including Kazir Dewri and 2 No. Gate markets, revealed little relief for shoppers. Vegetable prices have jumped by ৳20 to ৳30 per kilogram across the board. Hyacinth beans (shim) are currently retailing at ৳190 per kg, while eggplants (begun) are selling for ৳130, yardlong beans (borboti) for ৳110, and cucumbers for ৳80 per kg. Green chilies have also witnessed a steep rise, reaching ৳160 per kg. Meanwhile, luffa (jhinge) and bitter gourd (korola) are holding at ৳80 per kg. ​Retailers attribute the sudden hike to supply shortages in wholesale markets. Mohammad Ismail, a vegetable vendor at Kazir Dewri Market, stated that wholesale supply has been low for several weeks. High procurement costs at wholesale hubs (aarats) are directly driving up retail prices. ​The volatility extends to the fish market as well. Depending on quality and size, pangas is selling for ৳230 per kg, tilapia for ৳260, pabda between ৳350 and ৳450, and large rui between ৳450 and ৳500 per kg. Premium varieties such as shrimp have touched ৳800 to ৳900 per kg, while tengra is selling at ৳700 per kg. ​Ratan Das, a fish trader at 2 No. Gate, noted, "Prices are high at the wholesale level, coupled with increased transportation costs. Buying at higher rates leaves us with no choice but to sell at elevated prices." ​Essential protein sources have not been spared either. Broiler chicken prices have climbed by roughly ৳20 per kg, retailing between ৳190 and ৳200, while a dozen eggs now costs ৳150. ​Shoppers expressed deep frustration over the simultaneous price spikes across all categories, noting that managing household budgets becomes nearly impossible when essential food items rise together. Consumers have strongly urged local authorities to enforce strict market oversight from wholesale hubs down to retail stalls.