Prices of eggs, one of the main sources Of protein, have been rising for the last couple of weeks.

Each dozen is being sold for Tk 110 to 115, about Tk 15-20 more than the prices two weeks ago.

Essential spices like onion, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon and cumin have also become pricier during the same period.

In the capital's Moghbazar, Farmgate and Karwan Bazar kitchen markets, each kg of both local and imported onion prices have risen by at least Tk 10, garlic by Tk 20 and cardamom byTk 1,000.

Each kg of cinnamon is being sold atTk 400 to 450 and cumin at Tk 380 to 450. The spices were only between Tk 40 and 60 a kg less than a month ago.

Shoppers alleged that retailers and wholesalers were out to make some extra profit ahead of the Eid. They had started raising the prices since the budget was announced early last month.

"Eggs are not cheap anymore, especially for low-income people. It is going almost beyond our means," said Al-Amin, a shopper in Farmgate area.

However, shopkeepers claimed that the hot and humid weather rotting stockpiles and rising prices of imported goods were causing the price hike.

Dulal Babu, wholesaler of eggs at Karwan Bazar, said poultry farm owners were reporting a slump in production as chickens fell sick or simply laid fewer eggs.

"The price of a kg of cardamom is nearly Tk 3,000 — it is unacceptable. It was much cheaper during the Ramadan," said Arshadul Islam, a shopper at Moghbazar.

Spice wholesaler Laal Sharif in Karwan Bazar said the prices had increased recently in the international market and may continue to rise further. He added that the price hike had nothing to do with the budget and Eid.

Onion wholesaler Hridoy Mollik in Karwan Bazar said many traders were out thousands as piles of onion had rotted due to the weather.