Vegetable prices at Kawran Bazar have shot up after the budget presentation and announcement of new pay scales. PHOTO: STAR

The announcements of the new pay scale and the national budget have fuelled the price hike of essential commodities in the city.

Shopkeepers have raised prices of some essentials although the government did not raise taxes on these items.

"Despite the fact that there was no increase in tax on onion, sugar and edible oil in the proposed budget, the traders charge higher prices for these items," said an agitated customer at Karwan Bazar.

Soybean oil is now selling at Tk 55 per litre which was Tk 52 before the budget announcement. The price of onion rose from Tk 14 to Tk 16 per kg.

The prices of different varieties of rice are also on the rise. "Good quality Nazirshail rice is now selling at Tk 24 to Tk 25 per kg," said Belal, a shopkeeper from Hatirpul kitchen market. Belal said rice prices have already risen by Tk 1 or 2 per kg and may further rise.

Oddly enough, the price of spices has remained normal despite imposition of tax on some spices in the proposed budget.

The prices of almost all vegetables have also increased in the last two weeks. "Prices have increased by Tk 4 to Tk 7 per kg on some items," said Deepita Rashid, a customer at Jhigatola kitchen market.

However, vegetable traders said the prices of some items such as tomato, cucumber, papaya and lemon have declined.

The customers pointed out that the price hike began from Mid May of this year, after the announcement of the new pay scale.

When contacted, officials of the Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (Cab) blamed the government authorities for not monitoring the market.

"Traders take the advantage of the absence of proper monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce," said Quazi Faruque, general secretary, Cab.

Faruque pointed out that the Taskforce formed by the commerce ministry to observe market trends has not been functioning properly.