Vendors wait for customers at a shop at Thatari Bazar in Dhaka on Friday. — New Age photo

Commodity prices rose further on the retail markets in the capital over the week though the government took some steps to check the price rise ahead of Ramadan.
The government recently imposed ban on export of green chilli, aubergine, garlic and onion and set a 10-per cent profit ceiling for the traders during Ramadan to check price hike of essential commodities during the month of fasting for the Muslims.
Retailers said despite the government’s moves, the prices of almost all commodities went up over the past week ending Friday.
Consumers said some unscrupulous businessmen were hiking the commodity prices at their will.
The prices of all verities of fish were on the rise over the past one month.
Broiler and beef prices marked fresh rises over the week.
The prices of tomato and potato continued to rise in the last one month.
Ginger and onion prices saw fresh rises in the past week.
The prices of lentils, chickpea flour (beshon) and sugar continued to rise ahead of Ramadan.
Vegetables prices also rise. Green chilli price, however, decreased slightly over the past week.
The prices of salt and egg were stable over the week.
Consumers alleged that retailers were responsible for the price hike as there was a huge gap between retail and wholesale markets prices of the commodities.
Masum Billah, a schoolteacher, said that the government’s initiatives were falling through because the retailers hiked the prices at their will.
The government has to strengthen its market monitoring activities during Ramadan, he added.
The retailers, however, said the wholesalers were responsible for the price spiral as they (wholesalers) raised the prices at the wholesale level by creating artificial crisis across the country.
‘We can’t sell a commodity at a price lower than its buying price,’ said Aminul Islam, a retailer at Hatirpul kitchen market in the city.
The prices of broiler and beef increased by Tk 5 a kilogram to Tk 180 a kg and Tk 10 to Tk 280 a kg respectively over the week.
Rohita, katla, pangas and tilapia prices went up by Tk 50 a kg, Tk 50 a kg, Tk 20 a kg and Tk 30 to Tk 50 a kg respectively.
Rohita, katla, pangas and tilapia were retailing at Tk 250 to Tk 400 a kg, Tk 200 to Tk 350 a kg, Tk 150 to Tk 450 a kg and Tk 130 to Tk 250 a kg respectively, depending on their sizes and quality, on Friday. 
Hilsha was retailing at Tk 1,000 a kg on Friday, while it was sold at Tk 600 a kg one week before.
Tomato price increased by Tk 20 to Tk 100 a kg and that of potato by Tk 2 to Tk 26 a kg over the past week.
Ginger and onion were retailing at Tk 100 a kg and Tk 36 a kg respectively on Friday. The prices of the items were Tk 70 a kg and Tk 34 a kg respectively the week before.
Red lentil, black gram and gram prices increased by Tk 5 kg each to Tk 120 a kg, Tk 120 a kg and Tk 95 a kg respectively in last week.
The price of chickpea flour (beshon) increased by Tk 10 to Tk 120 a kg over the week, while the commodity was sold at Tk 110 a kg the week before.
Eggs and salt, like previous week, were selling at Tk 38 to Tk 40 a hali (four pieces) and Tk 28 to Tk 30 a kg respectively on Friday.