Among the 28 items, prices of only two declined marginally, seven remained unchanged and the rest 19 took upward trend during the period, said the survey, released by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) on Thursday.

The price of eggs increased by 14.81 per cent. The price of four eggs was Tk 13-14 a year ago against Tk 15-16 now, according to the survey.

The survey showed only the prices of garlic and packet powdered milk decreased.

The survey showed that different category garlic were selling at Tk 26 to Tk 44 a kg on Wednesday which hovered from Tk 34 to Tk 45 a year ago on July 30, 2002.

It also showed packet powdered milk of one kg was selling at Tk 220-225 which was Tk 238-242 a year ago.

According to the survey conducted by Market Rate Investigation and Research Cell of the TCB, on Wednesday per kg fine rice was selling at Tk 19-21, up from Tk 18-20 a year ago; coarse rice Tk 14.50-15.50, up from Tk 14-15; flour (coarse) Tk 13-15 which was Tk 12-15; flour (fine) Tk 15-19, up from Tk 14-18, lentil Tk 40-44 which was Tk 36-40; per litre soybean oil (loose) Tk 42-44, up from Tk 39-40 a year ago.

The survey showed on Wednesday the price of per kg onion was Tk 16-21 which was Tk 15-16 a year ago; dried chili Tk 70-75, up from Tk 60-70; turmeric Tk 54-64 which was Tk 42-50; beef Tk 85-95, up from 80-90; chicken (broiler) Tk 70-75, up from Tk 70-72; chicken (local) Tk 120-125 which was Tk 110-115; sugar Tk 32-33, up from 30-32; iodised salt Tk 10-11 which was Tk 9-10 a year ago.

When contacted, traders said production of eggs in Gazipur and Savar, the hubs of poultry farming, has declined as many small farms in the areas closed down, causing rise in prices. Some traders said wholesalers at Tejgaon in Dhaka not farmers who control the market price of eggs.

The price of fish is also high in Dhaka markets. Different sizes of hilsa sell at Tk 120-200 per piece. Local ruhi sells at Tk 120-130 per kg, imported ruhi Tk 80-90 and catfish Tk 250-320.

Traders attributed the price hike to rise in production cost. On government fixed rate, they said government should not control the market, the market price should be determined by demand and supply situation.