Meat prices out of low-income people’s reach even at subsidised rates
DOT Desk: Meat prices remained out of low-income people’s reach even at subsided rates offered by the government on the occasion of Ramadan Mohammad Badsha is a rickshaw driver by profession, reports TBS.
He came to Khamarbari this morning to buy beef at the government’s salespoints, but had to leave without buying it as the price was out of his reach.
“Poor people like us cannot buy at these prices. This is for those who are affluent,” said Badshah, who lives in Mohammadpur with 5 members of his family. “I have to pay Tk3,500 for rent. We spend the least on food. I would buy 1kg of beef had it been Tk500. My family could eat a little meat during Ramadan,” he added. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock took the initiative of selling milk, eggs and meat on mobile at low prices in the capital. The programme was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim yesterday. Under this initiative, lower-income people will be able to buy beef at Tk640 per kg (market price is Tk750 per kg), mutton at Tk940 per kg (market rate Tk1,100), dressed broiler chicken at Tk340 per kg while the market rate is Tk270 per kg for just the chicken, milk at Tk80 per litre (Tk90) and eggs at Tk10 per piece (Tk12).
“Small packets of half a litre of milk, a small number of eggs, and a packet of half a kilogram of meat will be kept so that people with very low income can buy these products within their means. Our target is not rich people but those who have relatively low-income,” Minister of Fisheries and Livestock SM Rezaul Karim said. However, after talking to people at the Khamarbari spot yesterday, it was learned that they cannot afford to buy at these prices. Most of the people who bought the products are either jobholders or businessmen.