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Another round of price hike ahead of Eid

CITY CORRESPONDENT
***Consumers allege that although there is no crisis of any item, the hoarders are raising prices time to time at their will***
Prices of essentials, especially the Eid-related items, have marked another round of increase in the city's kitchen markets.
The hike started with the soybean oil price last week. But now, with Eid-ul-Azha around the corner, items like onions, pilau rice, ghee, sugar and spices are showing a similar trend.
"'Prices of Eid items are making a steady rise," said Akram Hossain, a consumer at Karwan Bazar. "It will go totally out of control just before the Eid day," he said expressing fear and disgust.
This correspondent yesterday found that prices of different items varied in kitchen markets at New Market, Kaptan Bazar, Karwan Bazar, Hatir Pool, Shantinagar and Palassey. But in all the markets most items were selling at much higher prices compared to last Eid.
Local onions are now selling at Tk 26-28 a kilogram while imported Indian varieties sell at Tk 22-24. The price of onions was high also during the last Eid. But they were only Tk 1012 a kilogram at this time last year.
Soybean price, which has been rising unabated, has marked an alltime high at Tk 60 per litre. Its price
was Tk 56 a week go. A five-litre container of soybean oil now sells at Tk 290, up from its last week's Tk 275.
Prices of different brands of ghee including Milk Vita, Red Cow and Baghabari have also registered rise.
Pilau rice, which was selling at Tk 28-30 a kilogram during the last Eid now sells at Tk 35-38.
Prices of spices also marked sharp rise. Cinnamon now sells at Tk 160 per kilogram, Tk 40 up from last Eid. Cardamom, which was Tk 800 a kilogram is now priced at Tk 1000 and clove registered Tk 100 rise per kilogram while cumin by Tk 20.
Prices of powdered and intact dry chilli, turmeric, garlic and ginger have
also marked a steady rise.
Besides Eid-related items, prices of different varieties of pulses, flour and eggs are also rising, market sources said.
Consumers alleged that although there is no crisis of any item, the hoarders are raising prices time to time at their will.
"The authorities have failed to control the market. They neither monitor price situation nor take action against these hoarders," said Ruhul Amin at New Market.
The government had introduced mobile courts ahead of the last Eid. The courts, despite all efforts in Dhaka and Chittagong, failed to control the price hike of essentials.
Recently at a meeting with the District Commissioner of Chittagong, the business community of Khatunganj, Chaktai and Rajakhali who play a big role in import of essentials, placed some proposals for control of the price situation.
They urged the authorities to take immediate steps to stop customs harassment, bribing, toll-taking at different points and smuggling in border areas. They also demanded action against the hoarders. Otherwise, the price situation will never become stable, they warned.