The cost of living in the capital has taken another sharp turn as broiler chicken prices surged at an “abnormal” rate over the past week. A kilogram of broiler chicken, which sold for Tk 170 to Tk 180 just seven days ago, is now retailing for up to Tk 230—marking a staggering jump of nearly Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kilogram.
This sudden volatility in the poultry market has placed immense pressure on middle- and lower-income families, many of whom rely on broiler chicken as their primary and most affordable source of animal protein.
A Market-Wide Surge
A visit to the kitchen markets in New Market and surrounding areas on Friday (March 6, 2026) revealed a grim picture for shoppers. It isn’t just the broiler variety that is seeing price hikes; almost all poultry types have become significantly more expensive:
| Poultry Variety | Current Price (per kg) |
| Broiler Chicken | Tk 230 |
| Cock Chicken | Tk 350 |
| Layer Chicken | Tk 360 |
| Native (Deshi) Chicken | Tk 730 |
Supply Crunch and Ramadan Demand
Retailers cite a dual crisis of plummeting supply and rising seasonal demand as the primary drivers of the hike. With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, consumption typically increases, leading to market instability.
“Last week, I sold broilers for Tk 170-180. But in just a few days, the price has spiked in the wholesale market,” said Md. Alamgir, a vendor at New Market. “We are forced to buy at higher rates, so we have no choice but to pass that cost on to the retail buyers.”
Another seller, Sohel Mia, explained that many poultry farmers sold off their stock early in anticipation of the Ramadan rush, leading to the current supply gap in wholesale hubs.
Consumer Frustration Mounts
For many shoppers, the price hike feels like a direct hit to their household budgets. Rafiqul Islam, a regular buyer, expressed his shock: “I never thought the price would rise this much in a single week. A chicken I bought for Tk 180 is now Tk 230. This is making it nearly impossible to manage monthly expenses.”
Nasrin Akter, another shopper, shared her frustration over the broader trend of rising food costs. “Everything—meat, fish—is expensive. A medium-sized chicken now costs Tk 550 to Tk 600. It’s a huge burden for ordinary people.”
Fish and Vegetable Markets Also Under Pressure
The poultry crisis is mirrored by high prices in other sections of the market:
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Fish: Farmed Pangash is selling for Tk 180–220, Tilapia for Tk 200–220, and Rui for Tk 350–450 per kg. Some small fish species have reached as high as Tk 400 to Tk 1,200 per kg.
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Vegetables: As the winter season ends, supply has thinned, pushing prices up. Eggplant is retailing at Tk 60–80, bitter gourd (korola) at Tk 80–100, and okra (dherosh) at Tk 60–70 per kg.
With the official food inflation rate in Bangladesh recorded at 8.29% as of January 2026, the current market trends suggest that the coming weeks may continue to test the financial resilience of the public
