Prices for essential food items in Dhaka’s retail markets continue to place pressure on consumers. Hilsa fish has seen a sharp, sudden price surge of up to Tk500–600 per kilogram in the last week, while the cost of onions remains fixed at over Tk110 per kg. Supply disruptions and end-of-season shortages are cited as the main reasons for the inflation.
Shoppers in Dhaka are facing increased hardship this week, primarily driven by a significant spike in fish prices and persistently high costs for essential vegetables and spices.
The iconic Hilsa fish, a staple of Bengali cuisine, has become largely unaffordable, with its price soaring across retail markets following a sharp drop in wholesale supply.
Fish weighing around 1 kg are now selling for between Tk3,000 and 3,200, compared to Tk2,200–2,500 just a week ago. Larger Hilsa, exceeding one kilogram, are fetching prices as high as Tk4,800 per piece.
Imon, a hilsa seller at Rampura market, noted the severity of the supply shock: "We aren't getting fish like before, which has inevitably pushed up the prices."
Onion Prices Locked at High Levels
Despite market speculation, onion prices have resisted any significant downward trend. A spot check in several markets showed the retail price holding steady at Tk110–115 per kilogram.
While there was a marginal drop in the wholesale price for a 5-kg sack, moving from Tk520 to around Tk500, this decrease has not yet translated into savings for the average shopper. Wholesalers attribute the high cost to exhausted stocks of old onions and limited market supply. The price is not expected to ease until new-season crops arrive.
The high cost of onions is a subject of national debate, with reports suggesting the government may allow imports this week if local prices fail to stabilize.
Wider Market Inflation
The price pressure is not limited to Hilsa and onions. The cost of other staple fish remains high, with common varieties like rui, katla, and kalibaush selling for up to Tk450 per kg.
The arrival of new-season winter vegetables has also failed to bring relief. Prices for most vegetables have risen by Tk20–50 per kilogram. Newly harvested tomatoes and carrots are selling for up to Tk150–160 per kg, placing fresh produce beyond the reach of many low- and middle-income families.
Buyers expressed intense frustration over the overall surge in the cost of living. "If a single hilsa costs more than Tk5,000, how can people afford to buy it?" asked shopper Sanzid Hossain. "Not just hilsa—every fish price has gone up."
