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The Bangladesh Bread, Biscuit and Confectionery Manufacturers Association has decided to adjust the prices of manual bakery products starting Saturday (September 12).
Bakery owners announced that prices will increase by 20 percent on average, while certain items will maintain existing retail prices through reduced package weights.
Jalal Uddin, President of the Association, explained: "We have not formally announced a price hike; rather, we mutually agreed to adjust prices across the board. The upward adjustment will occur at a rate of 20 percent, or through weight reductions to match current price tags. For instance, a Tk 10 loaf will still sell at Tk 10, but its weight may drop from 400 grams to around 350 or 320 grams."
Highlighting the steep rise in raw material expenses, Jalal Uddin noted that over the past six months, coarse flour (atta) jumped from Tk 25–30 to Tk 42 per kg, a sack of fine flour (maida) surged from Tk 3,000 to Tk 5,600, and a drum of edible oil leaped from Tk 25,000 to Tk 36,000. Coupled with gas and power shortages and escalating overheads, factory owners argue they are struggling to keep operations viable and support their staff.
When asked if bakeries have started shutting down, Jalal Uddin stated that while complete closures have not occurred, production volumes have shrunk significantly, with bakeries that previously processed five sacks of flour daily now scaling down to three.
According to association data, approximately 7,000 small-scale manual bakeries operate nationwide, including over 700 units in the capital. Bakery owners noted that soaring raw material and energy costs have pushed production expenses up by 20 to 30 percent, while persistent energy shortages have reduced operational output by 10 to 15 percent. Association leaders warned that if the crisis lingers, the country's small-scale bakery sector could face severe disruption within six months.
