The egg saga: ‘Texting’ syndicate pockets Tk 3,650cr a year

Egg prices hit a record high of Tk 180 per dozen in early October. Although prices have eased somewhat following government intervention, they remain out of reach for lower-income households. Jago News investigated the sharp increase, tracing it from small farmers to major retailers in Dhaka.

On-site observations reveal that middlemen are controlling egg prices entirely, leaving producer farmers powerless. Farmers often don’t even know the selling price at the time of sale. Wholesalers rely on mobile messages to stay updated on prices, which syndicates manipulate to secure profits. Often, prices are adjusted mid-transport while eggs are still on trucks.

Each egg's price includes a Tk 2 cut for middlemen. With the country producing around five crore eggs daily, middlemen pocket an estimated Tk 10 crore daily, amounting to Tk 3,650 crore annually.

Tangail, especially Ghatail Upazila, is the country's largest egg production hub, supplying about 1.1 million eggs daily to Dhaka’s markets. Here, eggs pass through multiple hands—from small farmers to local traders, middlemen, Dhaka traders, and wholesalers—before reaching consumers. Through five layers of markup, an egg worth Tk 11.10 at the farm level is sold to consumers for Tk 13.33 (as of October 29).

Insights from visiting a marginal farm

In the village of Karna, located in Jamuria Union of Ghatail Upazila, Billal Hossain manages a poultry farm with 17,000 layer chickens across six sheds, producing around 1,200 to 1,300 eggs daily. Every two days, local workers from Mustafa Enterprise collect the eggs from his farm. On October 29, Billal sold 2,500 eggs to the hoarder without knowing the price he would receive.

Later that afternoon, Mustafa Enterprise notified Billal via mobile that the rate had been set at Tk 11.10 per egg. 

When Jago News visited hoarder Mustafa Kamal, he explained, "The farmer's rate comes from Dhaka, and we add a 20 paisa commission to cover transportation and breakage costs. The eggs will soon be sent to Dhaka by truck."

When asked about how prices were set, Mustafa Kamal mentioned, "We don’t have fixed rates with specific stores in Dhaka. We sell wherever we get a good price, and farmer rates are sent through messages."

What do farmers earn?

According to Billal and other farmers, it now costs about Tk 10.50 to produce each egg. With the current market, they are making a 60 paisa profit per egg, though they worry this will soon decrease as prices are dropping rapidly.

Billal's farm records indicate that each chicken requires 120 grams of feed daily, costing Tk 7. Additional costs include 25 paisa per day for both the chick itself and pre-laying care (22-28 weeks), water, electricity (Tk 4,000 per month for a shed with 1,000 chickens), and medication (Tk 10,000 per month). He also bears land rent, wages for 12 workers, bank loan interest, and other expenses that factor into each egg's final cost.

Billal noted, "Right now, there's some profit, but when prices fall to Tk 8, production costs don’t decrease. We’re forced to incur losses. Despite my Tk 1.5 crore investment and working 14-hour days, I sometimes don’t earn what I deserve."

Price remains beyond the producer's control

Despite heavy investment and substantial risk, egg producers have no control over their selling price—it’s set by others. Hoader Mustafa admitted he profits by negotiating his own margin, but the farmer’s rate arrives through an “invisible” message.

Mustafa revealed he received that day’s egg price from a wholesaler in Munshiganj, though he withheld the businessman’s name. This messaging system enables unscrupulous traders to dictate prices favorable to them, ensuring they face no financial risk.

Suja Mia, a farmer from Jamuria, Ghatail, expressed frustration: “We must sell at the rate given by Dhaka traders. Even as producers, we can’t set our prices. This control over egg pricing is unlike any other product—and it’s the main driver of soaring prices.”

Middlemen’s role in price hikes

At a recent meeting in Pabna, Farida Akhtar, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, emphasised, “Middlemen contribute significantly to rising commodity prices, including eggs. The largest egg production companies only cover 20 percent of demand, with the rest supplied by small farmers.” 

Farida stated the government’s goal of reducing middlemen interference in the supply chain, ensuring that independent small traders are not overtaken by large corporations. Efforts are also underway to adjust electricity tariffs for egg and fish production to fall under agricultural rates.

Who’s behind the syndicate?

A Jago News investigation in wholesale markets in Tejgaon and Kaptanbazar in Dhaka exposed a major syndicate involving several leaders of the Tejgaon Egg Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Society. Every evening, these leaders meet to set prices, which are then disseminated across the country by hundreds of traders and intermediaries, often called “media.” These “media” have no farms or storage facilities but play a crucial role in executing the syndicate’s prices, influencing retail markets nationwide.

Tejgaon Aart, one of Dhaka’s largest egg wholesale markets, handles 1.4 to 1.5 million eggs daily, affecting retail prices nationwide. Eggs shipped from farms across the country arrive in Tejgaon, then are distributed to markets and neighbourhoods throughout Dhaka. Without formal receipts, transactions rely on digital “receipts” sent by SMS, allowing a few traders to profit immensely while marginalising farmers.

Syndicate’s grip remains strong

The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA), representing marginal farmers, has long raised concerns about these practices. BPA President Md. Sumon Howlader stated, “We have provided specific information and evidence that egg trading associations illegally set prices without purchase receipts, destabilizing the market. I have shared this with every relevant government body.”

He added, “A powerful syndicate is clearly behind this. Despite a case against them in the Competition Commission, they continue to operate freely, enriching themselves at the expense of small farmers.” 

The syndicate typically adds Tk 2 per egg, manipulating the farmers’ price so they keep a steady margin of Tk 2 per egg. This system enables them to siphon off thousands of crores of taka annually, leaving marginal farmers struggling to survive.

Since it is the largest market, the price of eggs in Tejgaon affects the retail market across the country.

Farmers held hostage by the syndicate

Egg farmers in Ghatail face limited options, selling their eggs every two to four days to the same wholesalers. Even if they want to explore other buyers, they risk being blacklisted by their current wholesalers if they sell elsewhere. Korban Ali, the oldest farmer in the Karna area of Ghatail, explained, “If we get a good price one day and sell elsewhere, the regular wholesaler won’t take our eggs when prices drop. This means thousands of eggs could rot, so we’re forced to keep selling to the same buyers.”

Additionally, many farmers are financially tied to these traders, who provide feed and loans before production starts, further limiting the farmers’ freedom to sell eggs elsewhere.

Bahauddin Sarwar Rizvi, an Upazila livestock officer in Ghatail, commented, “Farmers must be liberated from this dependency. They are essentially hostage, supplying eggs with investments made by others.”

Egg prices rise with every exchange

Tracking the eggs sold by hoarder Mustafa Kamal in Ghatail revealed that they changed hands twice en route to Kaptanbazar and Tejgaon in Dhaka, eventually reaching the consumer. Mustafa initially sold a truckload of 150,000 eggs, with 50,000 sent to Chattogram and the remaining 100,000 to wholesaler Masud Molla in Kaptanbazar. From there, the eggs moved through various retailers, eventually reaching neighbourhood shops in Dhaka. In this process, eggs initially sold for Tk 11.10 at the farm level ended up costing consumers Tk 13.33 each.

The syndicate’s key players and their response

Jago News uncovered names of traders reportedly involved in a syndicate to manipulate egg prices. This includes traders from Tejgaon, such as Mohammad Amanat Ullah, the former president of the Tejgaon Egg Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Association, along with Md Hanif, Nasir Uddin, Al-Amin, and others. Traders from Chattogram, Kaptanbazar, and Narayanganj were also named, including Delwar Hossain, Masud, and Ahmed Ali.

However, Amanat Ullah denied the allegations, stating, “We don’t set egg prices through texts, and I don’t know who does. We’ve also filed complaints with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce about this.” When asked why many of these traders meet daily, he claimed, “We don’t discuss market prices—our meetings are about personal issues.”

Intermediaries known as “media” also influence pricing, though most lack physical warehouses or farms. This group includes individuals like Alamgir from Narsingdi, Rashed from Bhairab, Saiful Talukder, Monir Talukder, Abu Sayeed, Ajmal, Rana, Alamin, Raham Ali, Arif Hossain and Kamal from Mymensingh, Kalam and Manju Mia from Tangail, Bashir, Abu Kalam, Rana Mia, Faruk Mia, Harun and Shakil from Gazipur. Most declined to comment on their role in price-setting, though Arif Hossain from Mymensingh said, “How could we set the price? We just buy and sell, aiming for a profit of 10 paisa. We’d rather have control over this market ourselves.”

Protect egg farmers from the syndicate

SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told Jago News, "The multiple handovers of eggs are a significant issue we’ve raised repeatedly. Farmers are also stuck in a cycle of exploitation within the production sector, yet the necessary attention from the government or other entities has never been given."

Hossain added, "Farmers lack control—they are essentially held hostage because they can’t access bank loans or capital. We’ve suggested that banks, NGOs, or livestock agencies offer them support to break free from syndicate control. If farmers could control their business, they’d escape these exploitative chains."

CAB has also advocated for the Department of Livestock’s involvement in helping farmers market their eggs, ensuring a layer of protection for producers.

Public frustration with syndicate control

Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, expressed frustration over the interim government’s failure to dismantle the egg syndicate. On October 9, he posted on Facebook, “Eggs change hands multiple times in Karwan Bazar before even being unloaded from the truck. So far, this government hasn’t managed to break any syndicate; they’ve only changed the faces. What is the point of a mass movement if it can’t control prices or break syndicates?”

Insights from the Department of Livestock and Agricultural Marketing

Bahauddin Sarwar Rizvi, Livestock Officer of Ghatail Upazila, explained to Jago News, “If eggs could go directly from farms to markets without changing hands, each egg’s price would drop by Tk 2. During the pandemic and Ramadan, we successfully sold Ghatail eggs directly to consumers with the help of the Livestock Department.”

Shariful Haque, Deputy Director of the Livestock Department, mentioned that while price-setting SMS messages from egg traders’ associations have been reported, clear evidence is lacking. However, law enforcement agencies have been informed.

According to Mohammad Reza Ahmed Khan, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Marketing Department, "Setting prices without receipts is illegal under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 2008. Yet, many traders hide purchase prices when buying from farmers, which violates the law.”

Egg consumption declines while demand outpaces production

A survey by the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission this year shows egg prices in Bangladesh are considerably higher than in neighboring India and Pakistan. In June, a dozen eggs cost Tk 81-96 in India and Tk 73-118 in Pakistan, while in Bangladesh, prices soared to Tk 150-165—a 78% premium over India and 65% over Pakistan.

SANEM reported in March that 77% of Bangladeshi households have cut back on egg consumption due to inflation. Although Bangladesh produces around five crore eggs daily, AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University, believes production is insufficient to meet demand, leading to frequent price fluctuations.

As of January 1, 2024, Bangladesh’s population of 171.59 million requires an estimated 62.9 million eggs per day, underscoring the need for increased production to stabilise prices.