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Onion and eggs became pricier in the middle of this week, compounding woes of the consumers already battered by the high prices of essentials.
Local onion reached Tk 65 - Tk 70 a kilogramme (kg) Tuesday while the imported variety was selling at Tk 55 - Tk 60 at the retail markets in the city, showing 15-17 per cent hike in just three days.
The spice item witnessed a 42-53 per cent hike in last two and half weeks, according to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Traders attributed the hike to a leap in prices in the major exporting country India.
Market experts, however, blamed it to be artificially created caused by a section of local traders.
Indian daily Economic Times reported that the price of onion showed an uptrend and witnessed a 43 per cent increase durig a period from October 01 to13.
The wholesale price of onion at Lasalgaon, Maharashtra in India was 23 rupee (Tk 31) a kg after the surge amid ongoing Diwali festival there while heavy rains in two major onion-growing states also disrupted the supply.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan told the FE that the onion, brought in September when price reached its ground in India to Rs. 08-12 a kg (Tk 10-Tk 15), were being traded at Tk 50 - Tk 52 a kg at Shyambazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale markets in the city from Monday.
Despite the price surge in India, he said, the import cost should not be more than Tk 33 a kg as per the CAB report.
He also pointed out that there should be no scarcity of local onion until December next, but the traders increased the price by more than 40 per cent on excuse of the price surge in India.
He said that the high inflationary pressure has brought a hardship for limited income people as prices of major food items, including rice, reached their peak this year.
According to the latest report of BBS, food inflation increased 55 basis points in September last by hitting 7.87 per cent -- the highest in last three years.
Meanwhile, egg prices witnessed a significant hike in the last few days.
Farm eggs, considered as key protein source for the poor, were selling at Tk 34 - Tk 36 per four pieces at the groceries, showing 13-20 per cent hike from Tk 30 earlier.
Eggs of Pakistani chickens and ducks were selling at Tk 48 - Tk 50 per four pieces, showing 7-9 per cent increase.
Chilli price continued with its previous high and sold at Tk 160 - Tk 220 a kg based on quality.
Ginger, both of local and imported varieties, witnessed a Tk 20 - Tk 25 surge in a week. Vegetables were also traded at their earlier high rates.