Dhaka, Dec. 21 -- A deepening crisis in Bangladesh's poultry industry is forcing thousands of small-scale farmers to shut down their operations due to soaring production costs, market manipulation by middlemen, and a collapse in farm-gate prices, industry insiders said on Saturday.

Farmers are losing nearly Tk 13 billion per month in egg and broiler chicken production, according to both small and big farmers.

Market intervention by middlemen, who pocket at least Tk 3.30 billion in profit each month from eggs and some Tk 40 per kg from broiler chicken, has also affected end consumers, they said.

The country's poultry industry, a backbone of rural employment and protein security, has turned hostile for the marginal producer in late 2025 ...