Kitchen markets in the capital on Friday saw relatively thin crowds, while a smaller number of traders reopened their shops and resumed regular business activities following the Eid holidays.

Vendors said that customer turnout remained lower than on a typical Friday, as many families had yet to return to Dhaka after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha in their hometowns.

Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, was celebrated on May 28 in the country.

Moreover, prices of several items that had risen before Eid, such as chicken and eggs, have now come down. Sellers said that it might take several more days for the kitchen markets to return to normalcy.

On Friday, broiler chicken was being sold at Tk 150-160 a kilogram, which was Tk 200-220 before Eid, while Sonali chicken was at Tk 330-340 a kilogram, which was Tk 350 a kilogram before Eid.

The prices of eggs witnessed a significant decline, lowering a dozen brown eggs to Tk 110-120, which was Tk 145-150 before Eid, while the white variant eggs’ prices declined to Tk 100-105 a dozen on Friday, which was 120-130 a dozen before Eid.

Alamgir Hossain, a trader at the Karwan Bazar wholesale market, said that he resumed trading two days ago but remained sluggish.

‘We have reopened our shops, and some sales are taking place, but the number of customers is nowhere near the level seen before Eid. Many households stocked up on essentials ahead of the festival and are now purchasing only limited quantities,’ he added.

He also said that although many office workers had returned to the capital following the end of the official holiday period, a large number of small business owners, factory workers and informal-sector employees had yet to return.

That is why market crowds remain relatively thin, they added, saying that they expected more people to return to Dhaka by Sunday or Monday, and the  markets might regain full momentum from next Friday.

Rice prices remained high on Friday, with Miniket being sold at Tk 70-85 a kilogram depending on quality, while Paijam or Athash was at Tk 55-68 a kilogram and coarse variant was at Tk 50-60 a kilogram, while loose aromatic rice was being sold at Tk 140-170 a kilogram.

The vegetable market was also stable on Friday, following sufficient supply and lower consumer turnout.

On Friday, spiny gourd, ridge gourd, sponge gourd, and snake gourd were selling at Tk 40-60 a kilogram, lower than before Eid.

Bitter gourd was selling at Tk 80 a kilogram, yardlong beans at Tk 50, okra at Tk 40-50 a kilogram, bottle gourd and ax gourd at Tk 50-60 apiece, and taro stem at Tk 80 a kilogram.

Cucumber was selling at Tk 80 a kilogram, tomatoes at Tk 80 a kilogram and aubergine at Tk 40-60 a kilogram on Friday.

Green chilli was being sold at Tk 60-80 a kilogram, onions were priced at Tk 50 a kilogram and potatoes was at Tk 30 a kilogram at the capital’s kitchen markets.

Garlic was selling at Tk 120 a kilogram for local varieties and Tk 180 for imported varieties, with both the items’ prices dropping by Tk 20-30 a kilogram.

The supply of soya bean oil on kitchen markets has increased since before Eid after months of shortage.

On Friday, bottled soya bean oil was being sold at Tk 199 a litre from, unpackaged soya bean oil at Tk 180-185 a litre and palm oil at Tk 165-170 a litre.

Among pulses, fine red lentils were selling at Tk 160 a kilogram, medium-quality lentils at Tk 120 and coarse lentils at Tk 105.

Moong dal ranged from Tk 120 to Tk 170 a kilogram, while motor dal sold at Tk 65-75.

Unpackaged atta was priced at Tk 40-46 a kilogram; the packaged variant was at Tk 60 a kilogram; unpackaged flour was at Tk 60 a kilogram; packaged flour was at Tk 75 a kilogram on Friday; and sugar was being sold at Tk 105 a kilogram.

Beef was selling at Tk 800-850 a kilogram and mutton at Tk 1,200-1,300 a kilogram, although the shops of beef and mutton were largely shuttered.

Among fish, Katla was selling at Tk 400-450 a kilogram, Ruhi at Tk 380-450, Tilapia at Tk 200-250, and Pangas at Tk 200-220 a kilogram on Friday.