The price of an egg should not be fixed at more than Tk 12

The price of a dozen broiler chicken eggs in Bangladesh is the sixth-lowest compared to that in 95 other countries, according to the latest estimate by Numbeo, a Serbia-based global database featuring many fields and products.

The data showed $1.25 (or Tk155 based on Tk124 as the exchange rate of the US currency in the informal market in Bangladesh on Monday) as the price of eggs in the country currently. But the exchange rate (Tk112) fixed by the central bank means that the price is as much as Tk 140.

India charged the lowest price $.96 for the same number of eggs followed by $1.13 in Pakistan, as per the data updated on Thursday. Iran was selling eggs at $1.15 – the third-lowest price in the chart.  

On the contrary, eggs were the priciest ($7.03) in New Zealand while the second and third highest rates were $7 and $4.44 in Switzerland and Denmark respectively.  

Prices in major cities
The retail price of each dozen eggs is Tk140-144 on Thursday in Dhaka. Meanwhile, our Sylhet correspondent reported the highest price (Tk145).

In Chittagong, Khulna, Barishal and Rajshahi cities, it commonly ranged between Tk130 and Tk140. 

However, the price in most of the districts was Tk130 last week. 

According to the Bangladesh Egg Producers Association, the country requires between 35 and 40 million eggs per day to meet demand. And the majority of the eggs are sourced from domestic producers.

The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) reported in August last year that over the last 10 fiscal years, the nation's egg production had more than doubled. 

The country produced 10,170 million eggs in FY 2013–14, and another 23,380 million in FY 2022–23.

Volatile market, govt measures
In mid-August 2023, the then fisheries and livestock minister citing a survey of the DLS said the production cost of each egg was more than Tk10.50.

Nevertheless, a dozen eggs were selling for a record Tk180 then (Tk15/apiece).

The minister then added: “Even If we take other costs and profit into consideration, it seems to me that the price of an egg should not be fixed at more than Tk 12.”

Amid the higher prices of prices since early 2023, the government conducted mobile courts to check the crisis. As the drives could not help fully control the situation, the Commerce Ministry in mid-September set the maximum retail price for an egg at Tk12. 

Also in September, the government allowed the import of eggs to tame the higher prices while meeting the growing demand.

Soon after the announcement, the wholesale prices of eggs dropped slightly but it could not stop the import.

The poultry egg producers also opposed the import of eggs even though consumer rights activists supported the move.

After assuming power for the fourth time on the trot, the Awami League government has been vocal against the price hike of daily essentials and it aims to lower the rates before Ramadan.