03/05/2008 (The Daily Star) - Retailers across the country continue to sell palm oil at Tk 103 to Tk 104 a litre even though the government fixed its retail price at Tk 96 three days ago.

Prices of chicken, onion, fish and pulse rose in the wet markets of the capital during the last two days. Prices of different verities of fine rice went down by Tk 2-5 a kg in wholesale and retail markets in the city. The prices of coarse rice remained unchanged.

Officials of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) fixed the wholesale and retail prices of palm oil Tuesday after having a meeting with edible-oil traders in Chittagong. According to the meeting decision, traders would have to sell palm oil at this rate until May 10.

Our correspondent in Chittagong reports: Many wholesalers and retailers do not know the meeting decisions even after three days.

A kg of palm oil was selling between Tk 100 and Tk 101 at wholesale markets of the capital yesterday. Retailers were selling it between Tk 103 and Tk 104.

The price of battery chickens went up by Tk 5 a kg during the last two days, reaching Tk 130 a kg at some markets in the capital yesterday. The price of free-range chickens rose between Tk 20 and Tk 50. Medium-size chickens were selling between Tk 200 and Tk 250 yesterday.

Traders blamed shortfall in supply for the price hike of free-range chickens.

The price of locally-produced onions rose by Tk 2 per kg during the last two days. Onion was selling between Tk 22 and Tk 25 a kg yesterday.

Fish prices continued to go up during the last two days. It went up between Tk 10 and 20 a kg depending on species.

Prices of locally-produced pulses climbed up by Tk 2 per kg in wholesale during the last two days. A kg of locally-produced pulse was selling between Tk 85 and Tk 90 in retail.