Dhaka, March 18 -- Prices of chicken in Dhaka have spiked by 15-20 percent within a week ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, squeezing household budgets and prompting concerns over supply disruptions and possible market manipulation.

A visit to major wholesale markets including Karwan Bazar, Kaptan Bazar and Jatrabari, shows that prices of different varieties of chicken have increased by Tk 60 to Tk 120 per kg ahead of the festival.

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At the wholesale level, Pakistani cock variety Sonali chicken is now selling at Tk 330-340 per kg, while hybrid Sonali is priced at Tk 300-320.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, these prices were below Tk 300 at the beginning of Ramadan.

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