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Beef, chicken, onion, tomato and other vegetables have become pricier again in a week, augmenting woes of the commoners further ahead of the approaching Ramadan.
Broiler chicken reached the highest Tk 260 a kilogram, according to market sources.
Vendors said broiler has witnessed a Tk 80-100 hike per kg in the past five weeks.
On the other hand, red meat price climbed to Tk 780, marking a Tk 10-30 hike again.
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a 27-per cent surge in broiler chicken price in a month and 55 per cent in a year.
The state sales agency also found an 8.0-10-per cent hike in beef price in a month and 17 per cent in a year.
However, mutton price has remained at its previous high of Tk 1,100 a kg.
Meanwhile, the price of the Pakistani chicken variety of Sonali, shot up to Tk 360-370 a kg from Tk 330-340 even a week back.
Cultured fish varieties, including tilapia, pangas and koi remained static, maintaining their previous highs.
Onion, which remained reasonable for the last six months, started increasing since last week as sold at Tk 40-55 a kg on Friday.
Tomato price shot up to Tk 50-60 a kg from the previous Tk 35-40.
Bitter gourd and long-yard bean retailed at Tk 90-110 a kg, brinjal at Tk 60-70, snake gourd at Tk 65-75, pointed gourd at Tk 70-80 a kg and bottle gourd at Tk 60-70 apiece.
The latest price trends showed a further hike of Tk 10 a kg of the kitchen stuff.
Rashidul Alam, a salesperson at a fruit shop in Jigatola area, said it has been the toughest to exist in Dhaka with a monthly salary of Tk 15,000.
Families like Mr Alam's are adjusting with such higher surge only through cuts in the intake of proteins, fruits and other items.
"I usually need two litres of edible oil monthly for my four-member family which I cut down to 1.25 litres," the man said.
"I have also minimised the volume of broiler chicken, cultured pangas, tilapia and other items to adjust with the rising price trend."
"Living costs have increased by 30-40 per cent in a year considering a hike in food, transport, water, electricity costs, but my income rose by only 5.0 per cent," said the upset Alam.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) vice-president SM Nazer Hossain said prices of all key essentials have seen a notable hike in the past one year and a half.
He said prices of some selected items have also witnessed a further hike ahead of Ramadan, a month that usually sees a rise in consumption.
Mr Hossain said all protein sources become pricier making even cheaper ones beyond the reach of commoners.
Strict market monitoring is needed for a check and balance policy in the market before the fasting month, he said.