Shawdesh Desk:

The prices of rice, eggs and spices, including onions, went up on the kitchen markets in the capital Dhaka over the week ending Friday, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals for the Muslims, to be celebrated on Monday.

Every year, the prices of spices typically see an unusual hike during Eid-ul-Azha, but this year, the prices of some spices have almost doubled compared to the previous year.

The price of onions continued to rise on the kitchen markets and the item topped Tk 100 a kilogram on Friday.

Traders also increased the prices of rice ahead of Eid.

Retailers said that wholesalers increased the price of rice as mill owners hiked their mill gate rate of the staple food.

They also said that the prices of spices continued to rise for past two months as importers and wholesalers hiked the prices showing devaluation of the taka against the US dollar as an excuse.

The prices of Miniket rice increased by Tk 5-7 a kilogram over the week and lower-grade Miniket sold for Tk 70-75 a kilogram while its fine variety sold for Tk 78–80 a kilogram and Najirshail for Tk 75–85 a kilogram on Friday.

Coarse and medium-quality varieties of rice sold for Tk 54–60 a kilogram on the city markets.

The prices of onions increased by Tk 15-20 a kilogram and its local variety sold for Tk 90-110 a kilogram while the imported item sold for Tk 100-110 a kilogram.

The price of garlic increased by Tk 20-40 a kilogram and its local variety retailed at Tk 230–240 a kilogram while imported garlic sold for Tk 220–240 a kilogram on Friday.

The price of ginger increased by Tk 30-50 a kilogram and imported ginger sold for Tk 250-320 a kilogram while the local variety sold for Tk 400-450 a kilogram.

The price of cardamom increased by Tk 300-400 a kilogram in past one week and the item sold for Tk 3,500—4,300 a kilogram on the city markets.

The price of the item doubled in past one year from Tk 1,600-2,400 a kilogram in June 2023.

The price of cinnamon rose to Tk 650—700 from Tk 500—550 a kilogram and that of cloves increased to Tk 1,600-1,800 a kilogram from Tk 1,500-1600 a kilogram in the past couple of weeks.

The price of bay leaf increased by Tk 50-100 a kilogram and the item sold for Tk 200-300 a kilogram.

The item also increased by nearly 100 per cent from Tk 120-150 a kilogram in June 2023.

The price of eggs increased by Tk 3-4 a hali (four pieces) in past one week and the item sold for Tk 53-54 a hali on the city markets on Friday.