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The prices of green chillies more than tripled while that of different other vegetables also got dearer in the city markets for the last few days.
A kilogramme (Kg) of green chilli was selling between Tk 280-320 a kg at the retail levels on Thursday compared to Tk 80 to Tk 120 a couple of days back.
Trading sources attributed such a steep rise in the green chilli and most of the vegetables to their supply shortage caused to the incessant rain most parts of the country during the past few days.
Haider Ali, a wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, said chillies were previously sold at Tk 50-60 a kg are now priced at Tk 220-250.
Vendors also said the inundation of chilli fields in different parts of the country caused a supply crunch of the essential item in the market, thus pushing up its prices.
According to the Meteorological Department, a low-pressure over the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon winds have caused the downpour. It also forecast a continuation of rain for the next couple of days.
Apart from the steep rise in the green chilli prices, the prices of different types of vegetables also went up significantly in the city markets.
Brinjal (long) was selling at Tk 100-120 on Thursday against the previous rates of Tk 80-85.
Tomato prices were ranging between Tk 150 and Tk170 per kg, carrot Tk 160 and Tk170 and pointed gourd is Tk 60-70 a kg, much higher than that of their previous rates.
Okra was selling at Tk 60-70 and bitter gourd Tk 80-90 a kg, though the rates varied from one market to another.
Most of the vegetables prices were Tk 10-20 up from their previous prices.
On the other hand, Egg prices, which had fallen sharply, inched up again for the last couple of days.
A dozen of farm eggs were selling at Tk 125-130 against Tk 120 just a week back.
Prices of 'Broiler chicken remained steady at Tk 160-180 per kg.
Meanwhile, prices of rice, which registered an upward trend previously, maintained almost a steady trend last week.
According to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the fine variety of rice rose by 5.26 per cent in the past month, which was 16 per cent up more than a year ago.
Prices of medium varieties rice were 13 per cent up in the last month with 18.18 per cent year-on-year rise.
On the other hand, coarse varieties of rice were selling 9.52 per cent higher from their previous month's prices.
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