The price of chicken in the wholesale market is expected to decline during the month of Ramadan as country’s four major poultry farms have committed to bringing down chicken prices by at least Tk 30-40 per kg.
AHM Shafiquzzaman, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), made the disclosure after a meeting with the representatives of four industrial chicken farm producers-- Kazi Farms Limited, Aftab Bahumukhi Farms Limited, CP Bangladesh and Paragon Poultry and Hatchery Limited, on Thursday.
"These companies will sell chicken at Tk 190 to Tk195 per kg from their farm gates at such wholesale prices. Chicken is currently sold for Tk 220 to Tk 230," the DG of DNCRP said.
He further said that prices at the consumer level are expected to come down by Tk30-40.
"We will monitor the market. Hopefully, the prices will come down," he assured.
Corporate institutions supply up to 15-20 percent of the chicken demand in the market.
Earlier on Wednesday (23 March), AHM Shafiquzzaman said that the price of each unit of broiler chicken can in no way exceed Tk200 per kg, but the consumers are being charged up to Tk280 in various markets in the capital.
He also said that his team presented eight proposals before the government to take remedial measures, adding, if there is irregularity in any market, action will be taken against the concerned market management committee.
State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder earlier on Wednesday claimed 5,000-7,000 chickens die every day while being transported to Dhaka from all over the country, and they are supplied to restaurants in Dhaka.
He made claims during a press conference on the ministry's initiatives for the Holy Ramadan to prevent adulteration in essential commodities.
Earlier, the consumer rights protection directorate sent a market report to the commerce ministry as well as the ministry of fisheries and livestock claiming industrial-level production cost of each broiler chicken is Tk135-140 and that for marginal farmers is Tk160.
Market observers said broiler chicken is an affordable protein source for the general people but within 45-90 days it’s has gone out of the reach of the average consumer with price soaring nearly Tk120.
Beef had already gone out of reach as prices jumped from Tk675-700 to Tk780-800 in over a month.
Meanwhile, speakers at a market-based campaign programme of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Chattogram at Khatunganj Bazaar, the country's largest wholesale market, have advised consumers not to purchase whole month's goods at once.
They also recommended people to distribute cash instead of iftar items among the poor, urged businessmen to restraint from profiteering, and change eating habits at iftar.
The programme was arranged by CAB Chattogram and CAB Youth Group, where Vice President of CAB Central Committee SM Najer Hossain participated, among many others, a press release reads.
Leaders from both organisations advised consumers to avoid eating fried food and foreign fruits, as they contain oil, and sugary ingredients, as well as do not meet the body's requirement for nourishment after a long day of fasting, according to the release.
CAB Youth Group Chittagong Metropolitan President Abu Hanif Noman presided over the campaign where CAB Chittagong Divisional General Secretary Kazi Iqbal Bahar Chhaberi, CAB Metropolitan Organizing Secretary Jannatul Ferdous, CAB Metropolitan Joint Secretary Mohammad Jane Alam, CAB Pahartali's Harun Gafur Bhuiya, Metropolitan Construction Workers League President MA Alim Rana, CAB Youth Group Chittagong Divisional President Chowdhury KNM Riyad, CAB Youth Group Metropolitan's Imdadul Islam, Omar Karim, Karimul Islam, Salman Rashid Avi, and Naeem Mohammad Nishan spoke in solidarity.