The oppressive heatwave, which is sweeping through the country for over a month, is not only causing discomfort for people but also straining households as prices of vegetables, onion and chicken have gone up.

Chicken farming has been affected greatly due to the prolonged heatwave as more than 30% of chickens have died from extreme heat.

Visiting different kitchen markets at Mirpur and Shewrapara on Friday, it was seen that Sonali chicken was selling at Tk380-400 per kg and broiler chicken at Tk220 per kg.

The price of Sonali chicken was Tk370-380 per kg and that of broiler chicken Tk200 per kg a week ago. They were retailing at Tk320-340 and Tk190 per kg respectively a month earlier.

Mofizul Islam, a chicken trader at Mirpur-2 kitchen market, said instability is going on in the Sonali chicken market due to the ongoing heatwave.

“A supply crunch amid deaths of chicken due to the extreme heat increased the price of chicken in the market,” he said, adding that farmers are now selling low-weight chicken earlier than the maturity period.

The price of farm eggs was Tk120 per dozen at the kitchen market, the same as the previous week. Beef was selling at Tk750-780 per kg and mutton at Tk1,100 per kg.

The price of onion has increased by Tk10 to Tk70-80 per kg and that of ginger by Tk20-30 to Tk240-280 per kg.

Potatoes were selling at Tk60 per kg while local garlic at Tk150-180 per kg and imported garlic at Tk220-230 per kg.

Aminul Islam, a private company employee, said, “Sonali chicken is the main source of protein consumption for us but its price increased by around Tk40-60 per kg in a month when the prices of other commodities are also high. How could we survive if this situation continues?”

Cabbage was retailing at Tk50 per piece against last week’s Tk40, brinjal at Tk50-60 per kg for last week’s Tk50, cauliflower at Tk50 per kg with a rise by Tk10, bean at Tk100-120 per kg against Tk80, green papaya at Tk50 from Tk40 and tomato was selling at Tk60 per kg against last week’s Tk50.

The price of carrot was Tk60 per kg while that of pointed gourd Tk80 per kg, okra Tk60 per kg, ribbed gourd Tk80 per kg, cucumber Tk80 per kg and bottle gourd Tk40-60 per piece.