The prices of vegetables rose further by at least Tk 2 to 4 a kg as the wholesalers had to hire CNG-run three-wheelers and taxis because of the unavailability of rickshaws and rickshaw-vans.

Nearly four lakh rickshaws stayed off the road, as the owners and pullers enforced the strike to pressure the government to accept their six-point demand.

Drivers of CNG-run three-wheelers and taxis, which were also fewer than usual, took full advantage of the absence of rickshaws and charged fares higher than normal.

"This is ridiculous! We fasted all day, had to walk, then pay extra Tk 10 or more to get a CNG-run three-wheeler and now the high Iftar prices, is this a joke?" said Afrozi Sultana, an officer at a private firm who bought Iftar items on Bailey Road.

"I could not get a rickshaw like so many of us who were coming from Motijheel and I had to pay at least Tk 10 extra when hiring a CNG (-run three-wheeler), as so many people were waiting."

Some educational institutions even had to cancel scheduled examinations, as students would face much hardship due to the transportation problem.

GROCERY AND IFTAR PRICES
According to retailers of the kitchen markets in New Market, Hatirpool and Shantinagar, the prices increased by at least Tk 2-4 a kg and they blamed the price rise on their using motorised vehicles to transport goods from Karwan Bazar and Jatrabari wholesale markets.

The prices of aubergine shot up to Tk 80-90 a kg, potato to Tk 14-16, green chilli to Tk 120-140, tomato to Tk 70 from Tk 60 and cucumber from Tk 35 to 40 a kg.

"Since it cost us an additional Tk 60 to bring the goods from Karwan Bazar by CNG-run three-wheelers instead of a rickshaw-van, I had to increase the prices of all vegetables by at least two taka," said Nur Alam, a green retailer at Shantinagar Bazar.

Keeping pace with vegetables, the prices of Iftar items including fruits and spices yesterday jumped to an abnormal level, denting deep into the pockets of the middle-class.

The high prices sparked hard bargaining between consumers and vendors at roadside Iftar shops in the capital, with the vendors blaming it on the increased vegetable prices and manipulation by wholesalers.

For the consumers the prices of Iftar items this year are almost twice the previous year's.

The prices of other Iftar items such as various categories of dates ranged between Tk 50 and Tk 250 a kg yesterday against Tk 40 to Tk 150 previously. Fried gram was selling at Tk 60 to 80 a kg against Tk 40 last year.

People looked for Beguni, a popular item prepared from aubergine, in the shops but they could hardly afford it as the prices of aubergine rose to Tk 80 a kg in the kitchen markets. Vendors were selling Beguni at Tk 4 to 6 a piece, which was only Tk 2 last year.

Khorshed Alam, an Iftar buyer in front of Sukrabad bus stoppage, said, "I have not seen such high prices of Iftar items in 25 years of my life."

Piaju was selling at Tk 2 to 3 each, potato chop Tk 2 to 4, Halim at Tk 200 to 250 a kg, puffed rice at Tk 32 a kg, Jilapi at Tk 60 to 120 a kg, Bundia at Tk 80 to 160 a kg, cucumber at Tk 60 a kg, tomato at Tk 60 a kg, date 60 to 220 a kg and Tikia at Tk 4 to 10 apiece.

Middle-class workers, like Minhaz Abedin, a third-grade government employee, believe they have to bear the brunt of the spiralling prices, as they do not earn enough to cope with the sky-high Iftar and grocery prices.

"It is impossible to meet everyday family needs with my little income as the prices of vegetables and Iftar items have now spiralled out of control," Abedin lamented. "Maybe I will have to cut my Eid-shopping budget to cope with the rising prices during Ramadan."

Sellers of Iftar items, too, placed the blame onto the wholesalers. "We have no option but to charge higher prices this time, as the vegetable prices, main ingredients for iftar items, are now at a record high. Wholesalers charge us high prices and we pass it on to consumers," said Solaiman Mia, an iftar-vendor near Panthapath.

Shahrin Akter, an NGO worker, said, "I have bought some Ifter items, but was surprised to find that the vendor used papaya instead of aubergine in Beguni and mixed radish with onion for preparing Piaju."

"I am having great difficulty to prepare a good dish for Iftar or Sehri as the prices of essential items are too high this year," she continued. "I don't know how people are bearing family expenditure. My husband and I earn over Tk 15,000 a month, still the amount proves inadequate," Shirin added.

The prices of fruits also increased Tk 10 to 20 a kg on average in the retail market. Apple prices yesterday jumped to Tk 80 to 120 from Tk 60 a kg a few days back, malta was selling at Tk 80 against Tk 60 last week, Naspati at Tk 80 against Tk 70 earlier and a green coconut at Tk 15 against Tk 10 last week.