People are likely to be hit hard by increased prices of essentials due to the three-day strike enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally BNP fromtoday.

Traders said terror unleashed by the Jamaat-Shibir men across the country over the last three days has affected the supply of essentials as many truck owners refused to oper-

ate their vehicles fearing arson attacks.

Inadequate supply has already caused prices of vegetables to spiral in city markets.

"We are in trouble. Political instability and recurring strikes have affected the economy. The supply chain has already been affected as many goods-laden trucks have got stuck in different parts of the country," Mahbubul Alam, president of

Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association in Chittagong, told The Daily Star.

Many truck owners refused to rent their vehicles, but a few agreed against higher fares, he mentioned. "Consumers will have to bear the brunt of the strikes. Already, prices of vegetables have shot up."

At Karwan Bazar in the capital, retailers were found selling beans,

aubergine, green chilli and papaya at prices higher than the previous days.

Mohammad Shahidul, a vegetables retailer, said he had to sell beans at Tk 30 a kilogram. On Friday, it sold atTk25.

"It is because of inadequate supply. Prices are likely to increase further tomorrow [today] as supply from districts will remain suspended due to the shutdown," said Mostafa Kamal, a vegetables wholesaler at Karwan Bazar.

Supply of rice also faced disruption.

"There is no scope for supply. Pickets previously vandalised trucks, but now they torch the vehicles. Who will take the risk of operating the vehicles?" questioned Nirod Boron Saha, president of Dhan O Chai Aratdar O Babosayee Samity in Naogaon, a major rice sellinghub in the north.

Md Abdul Matin, owner of Titas Enterprise at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said previous strikes did not affect the supply of rice from the millers.

"But the three-day hartal is going to affect the supply. Many suppliers are reluctant to take the risk of renting vehicles. So a supply crunch is very likely and it may cause rice prices to increase further," he added.

Abdur Razzaque, president of Mouivibazar Wholesale Market Association in Dhaka, said cost of transportation has gone up as all businesses tried to get delivery of their goods from the suppliers ahead of the strike.

On the Chittagong-Dhaka route, truck operators now demand Tk 18,000, up from Tk 16,000.

"We will be unable to supply our clients' needs during the strike, which might see the prices of essentials soar at the retail level," mentioned Razzaque.

Rustom Ali Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Huck Owners Association, attributed the rise in truck fares to high demand.

"There is a huge crisis of trucks as all businessmen including garment factory owners either want to get their products delivered or receive shipment ahead of the hartal," he noted.

Truck owners will sit, said Rustom, to discuss ways to address the issue.