The prices of eggs dropped slightly yesterday after the supply increased in the capital's kitchen markets.

Brown eggs were sold for Tk 160-180 per dozen yesterday, down from Tk 180-200 the previous day.

However, the prices are still higher than those set by the government.

Under the pricing set by the government, each egg should be sold for Tk 10.58 at the producer level, Tk 11.01 at wholesale, and Tk 11.87 at retail.

This means the consumers should be able to purchase eggs for Tk 142.44 per dozen.

Visiting the capital's Tejgaon wholesale egg market yesterday afternoon, The Daily Star found that most of the shops were shut.

Wholesalers at this market resumed sales on Tuesday night after a two-day pause.

Wishing anonymity, a staffer of Al Amin Traders, an egg wholesale outlet, yesterday said that they would not sell eggs during the day for fear of being fined by mobile courts.

"The leaders of the Tejgaon Egg Merchants' Association have instructed us to sell eggs only between midnight and early morning," the staffer told The Daily Star.

The shop, however, was selling eggs exclusively to its regular customers.

Another shop, Alamgir Traders, was seen selling eggs for TK 1,250-Tk 1,400 each 100 pieces, up from the government-fixed rate of Tk 1,100.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Mohammad Amanat Ullah, former president of the Tejgaon Egg Merchants' Association, said they could not sell eggs at the government-fixed prices due to high purchase costs.

"We sold eggs for Tk 1,220-1,230 each 100 pieces. We have reached a consensus with four major farms, the government, and the other stakeholders on bringing down the prices. As per the consensus, the two farms will supply 20 lakh eggs to the wholesale egg markets every day -- 10 lakh to Tejgaon and 10 lakh to Kaptan Bazar," said Amanat Ullah.

He said the supply is supposed to begin within a day or two. "Once we receive the supplies, we will start selling eggs at the prices fixed by the government."

Stating that the daily demand for eggs in the capital is about 1 crore, Amanat Ullah said 12 more companies have promised to supply eggs to the wholesalers.