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The price of onion, one of the main cooking ingredients which had showed a series of hikes across the country in the last few months, witnessed another rise in the city markets last week.
Fish, a prime protein source, and potato also became costlier in the week battering the consumers, especially the common people, further.
All kinds of fish witnessed considerable hike which traders mainly attributed to the new fishing ban in major sanctuaries imposed by the government under its Hilsa fish conservation programme.
The government imposed the 22-day restriction on Hilsha fishing on October 09. Visiting different city markets at the weekend, this correspondent found that Hilsa was almost out of the markets.
Riverine rui, katla, kalibaus, boal and shoul were sold on Thursday at Tk 450-650 per kilogram (kg), tiger shrimp and fresh water prawn at Tk 500- 950 a kg and indigenous pabda at Tk 750-950, based on size, --- Tk 100-200 rise per kg.
Cultured rui and katla also witnessed a notable hike and was selling at Tk 190-310 depending on size and quality. Cultured pabda and tengra were sold at Tk 450-600 a kg.
Md Rafiquzzaman, a vendor at Town Hall market of Mohammadpur in the capital, said prices of fish increased notably at major wholesale markets, including Mawa, Jatrabari, Shawarighat and Karwan Bazar.
He said the three-week long fishing, (which will end by the end of October) has caused a hike in price of fish amid a supply crunch.
He said prices of all fish increased by Tk 120-180 a kg at Mawa Ghat last week.
Jatiyo Matshajibi Samity Secretary Sree Fani Bhushan Malo said ban on Hilsa fishing means imposing stoppage on catching of all fishes in sanctuaries in 11 fishing hubs of the country.
He said: "Besides, water level in rivers is still high which has been causing low catch of other fishes this year."
He also said the prices of riverine fishes excluding Hilsa might decline from November with river water receding.
However, he added that Hilsa prices will remain higher from now on until the next monsoon.
Bangladesh produces 4.0 million tonnes of different fishes annually of which Hilsa is 13 per cent.
Prices of potato increased by Tk 3.0-5.0 a kg in a week. Stored cardinal and diamond varieties were sold at Tk 25-28 and stored courage variety potato, which is known as local variety, was sold at Tk 35-42 a kg in different markets.
Traders said hike in cold storage gate has caused the price surge in potato.
Onion prices further witnessed last week after remaining static for the previous seven days.
Prices of the onion started further increasing from Sunday.
The essential spice was sold at Tk 90-100 (imported) and Tk 100- 110 a kg yesterday- a Tk 10- 20 hike.