Soaring egg prices cast shadow over Bangladesh markets 

World Egg Day 2026 will be observed today (Friday) worldwide, including in Bangladesh, under the slogan “Protein That Powers and Protects,” as soaring egg prices in the local market make this affordable source of protein increasingly difficult to access for middle- and lower-income households.

The day aims to raise awareness of the nutritional benefits of eggs, encourage regular consumption and dispel common misconceptions about the food.

While several non-governmental organisations and private associations are observing the day in Bangladesh today, the government’s national-level programme is scheduled to be held on October 13.

Data from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) shows a significant rise in egg production over the last decade. Annual production increased from 14.93 billion eggs in FY 2016�"17 to 25.09 billion in FY 2025�"26, posting a growth of more than 68 per cent. Current daily production exceeds 60 million eggs.

Marginal farmers account for around 80 per cent of the country’s total egg supply. Despite playing a crucial role in ensuring a steady supply of affordable protein, these small-scale producers face severe financial constraints for much of the year and are often forced to sell eggs below their production costs.

Industry insiders attribute the situation to rising production expenses, particularly the high prices of poultry feed, day-old chicks, medicines and fuel, as well as distortions in the supply chain. The involvement of multiple layers of middlemen has created a substantial gap between farm-gate and retail prices.

Currently, the production cost of an egg at the farm level is Tk 10.50 or more. But farmers are frequently compelled to sell eggs below that rate.

Hafizur Rahman, a poultry farmer from Bogura Sadar, said feed prices had risen sharply over the last three weeks.

According to him, prices of different types of animal feed have increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kilogramme (kg); a 50-kg bag of feed has become up to Tk 150 more expensive; rice bran and maize have seen the steepest increases; the price of a 50-kg bag of bran has risen from Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,800; the price of maize has increased from Tk 25 to Tk 37 per kg; and a 50-kg bag of poultry feed now costs as much as Tk 3,675.

“Even under these circumstances, we are forced to sell eggs below production costs because we have no control over prices and remain entirely dependent on market intermediaries,” he added.

In Dhaka’s retail markets, brown farm eggs are currently selling at Tk 13 to Tk 15, about Tk 2.50 to Tk 4.50 higher than the estimated production cost of Tk 10.50.

According to the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA), more than 40,000 layer farms�"both registered and unregistered�"are currently operating in the country. Of these, 20,464 are officially registered.