The measures came in response to intelligence report that unscrupulous retailers sell vegetables at prices double those in wholesale market.

A team of Rab-2 went to Karwan Bazar in the afternoon and talked to traders. They enquired about the prices of vegetables and fish and also wanted to know about middlemen, and other problems including toll collection and syndicate pressure.

They sought cooperation from the traders in containing the spiralling prices of vegetable and fish.

Sheikh Samsul Alam Bulbul, secretary of Karwan Bazar Vegetable Wholesalers Association, told The Daily Star, "The Rab men assured us of all-out cooperation and also sought help from us in checking the price hike."

He said they have told the elite crime busters that there is no syndicate in the items that are perishable. But the middlemen can hike the prices.

Rab members in plainclothes are monitoring wholesale and retail markets in the city so that the traders and others refrain from hiking the prices illegally, said a Rab official.

Earlier on Monday, they held a meeting with leaders of wholesale and retail market committees in the capital.