The prices of hilsa showed a downward trend from last week, thanks to the end of a two-month fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal.
However, the prices are still much higher for consumers in the lower income bracket.
Meanwhile, prices of fragrant spices, garlic and some vegetables rose further while farm chicken and onion prices witnessed a slight fall in the past seven days.
Medium-sized hilsa (600-850 gram/gm) was traded at Tk 400-750 and bigger size (above 900 gm) at Tk 800-1,250 apiece here on Friday-down by 20-30 per cent in prices.
Abdul Gafur, a fish vendor at Rayerbazar, said hilsa supply from rivers and the bay increased significantly since Thursday morning as fishing ban ended on July 23.
The 65-day ban on fishing in five major sanctuaries and in the bay began on May 20, aiming to preserve hilsa's sea habitats, according to fisheries ministry.
Mr Gafur told the FE that hilsa prices declined notably in the past 48 hours in Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.
"I bought 60 pieces of medium-sized hilsa at Tk 27,500 which was more than Tk 36,000 even a week back."
The trader said prices of both hilsa and other fish might decline further within days.
However, the price of hilsa is still much higher for commoners.
Harun Mridha, who works at a chicken shop at Rayerbazar, said a tiny fish was still selling at Tk 400-600 apiece which is beyond his purchasing power.
The man was awaiting a fall in the prices of small-size hilsa to Tk 200 apiece when he could think of buying one or two for his five-member family.
Sources said hilsa production increased to all-time high of 0.43 million tonnes in last fiscal year which was almost 11 per cent of the total fish production.
However, the prices of hot spices like clove, cardamom and cinnamon surged significantly in the last 10 days.
Market observers said traders have raised spice prices for hefty profits ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival when demand is at its peak for spices.
Cinnamon prices increased to Tk 400-450 a kilogram/kg from Tk 350-400 a kg earlier.
Cardamom prices increased to Tk 2,600-3,000 a kg from Tk 2,400-2,800 a kg earlier, according to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
Prices increased by 9.0 per cent to 31 per cent at wholesale and retail levels in seven days, it said.
Local garlic prices increased to Tk 150-160 a kg from Tk 130-140 a kg while imported garlic prices remained static at Tk 180-200 a kg last week.
Green chilli prices remained static at Tk 190-200 a kg on Friday.
Broiler chicken prices showed a slight decline. It sold at Tk 130-135 a kg on the day, down by Tk 5.0.
Most vegetables rose further by Tk 5.0-10 a kg, the higher rates that traders owed to the ongoing flooding that marred over 30,000 hectares of land countrywide.
