The Poultry Association of Bangladesh (BPA) has announced that it will begin selling eggs and chicken at fair prices across 20 locations in Dhaka starting January 12, with plans to expand to 100 locations gradually. The initiative aims to stabilize the market ahead of Ramadan. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Saturday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Suman Hawlader, President of the BPA, stated that this initiative will implement a smart market management system, offering eggs, frozen chicken, and other agricultural products at reasonable prices with limited profit margins. He emphasized that this effort would help ensure fair pricing and a steady supply of poultry products during the holy month of Ramadan.

Hawlader added that skilled individuals and entrepreneurs, including university students passionate about agriculture and consumer rights, will be involved in the BPA’s supply chain. This collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency of the initiative and contribute to the overall development of the agriculture sector and market management in the country.

The BPA president criticized corporate companies for allegedly monopolizing the market, accusing them of making excessive profits of over 6,000 crore BDT annually by selling feed and chicks. He argued that these companies’ control over the market has kept egg and chicken prices high, and the syndicate remains unbroken.

Hawlader pointed out that although global feed prices have decreased, this reduction has not been reflected in the local market, significantly impacting the cost of poultry products. He called on the government to include small-scale farmers in policy-making discussions to ensure their concerns are addressed.

At the press conference, farmers pledged their cooperation with the government to maintain affordable prices for eggs and chicken during Ramadan. The initiative will gradually expand to 100 points across Dhaka to meet growing demand. The BPA also held corporate companies accountable for the high poultry prices and urged the government to intervene to dismantle the alleged syndicate.

In addition, the BPA proposed the establishment of a Poultry Board and presented a 10-point demand to bring stability to the poultry market and ensure fair pricing for both producers and consumers.