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Prices of vegetables, fish and loose edible oil surged further last week, intensifying the sufferings of low-income consumers.
The fish market has heated up as hilsa and shrimp prices increased sharply.
Hilsa is now selling at Tk 1,800 to Tk 3,200 a kg, depending on size and quality.
Riverine ruhi and katla fishes are retailing at between Tk 650 and Tk 1,500 a kg.
Cultured shrimp is priced at Tk 800-Tk 1,000 a kg, while river shrimp is being sold for Tk 1,350 to Tk 1,500 a kg-Tk 100 to Tk 200 surge per kg in a week.
However, traders attributed the price hike to a supply shortage of both farmed and riverine fishes.
Fishing restrictions in many rivers under the government's hilsa preservation programme have significantly affected the supply, driving prices up at wholesale and retail markets, said Abdul Mazid, a fish seller at Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the capital.
Other fish varieties like farmed koi, shing and tengra have also seen a Tk 30-50 rise per kg.
The prices of cultured tilapia and pangas are now Tk 220-260 per kg, which is Tk 30-40 a kg higher than earlier.
Meanwhile, the supply of summer vegetables has declined, pushing their prices higher. Most vegetables are now selling for Tk 60-90 a kg.
Mehedi Hasan, a vegetable seller at the market, said prices tend to be higher in April due to the seasonal transition but are likely to come down as supplies increase.
He said the supply shortage has caused prices to rise.
During visits to Mohammadpur, Rayerbazar, and Karwan Bazar, it was seen that pointed gourd, okra, ridge gourd and snake gourd were selling at Tk 60-80 per kg.
Bitter gourd, eggplant, and long beans were priced between Tk 80-100, while teasel gourd was going for Tk 100-120. Drumsticks were selling at Tk 120-140 per kg.
The onion market has remained high since the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, with its price increasing by Tk 20-25 a kg during the festive period. Now, it sells at Tk 60-65 a kg.
Loose soybean oil price has increased by Tk 5.0-6.0 a litre further as super palm is being sold at Tk 165-170 and loose soybean at Tk 175-180 a litre.
However, the bottled soybean oil was raised by Tk 14 a litre two weeks back to Tk 189 a litre.
Broiler chicken is now selling at Tk 180-200 per kg, down from Tk 210-230.
Sonali/Pakistani chicken prices have also decreased to Tk 290-320 per kg from Tk 320-350 a kg earlier.
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