Many essentials, including rice, vegetables, oil, pulses, meat, fish, eggs and spices, have marked an increase from Tk 2 to Tk 10 per kilogram. Products like soap and stainless blades have also increased by Tk 1 as the finance minister proposed to tax them.

Traders in the city's kitchen market cautioned that many prices might experience a further rise in the coming weeks as the government does not have any control over the market. The traders said their sales saw a sharp decline as the price of essentials has increased.

"We see a negative effect in the market when the price increases. But we have to increase the price as we buy at an increased rate," said Zakir Hossain, a trader in the Karwan Bazar market.

During a visit to the city's Karwan Bazar and Hatirpul kitchen markets yesterday afternoon, it was found that the price of potatoes and cucumbers has increased from Tk two to four per kg within the last two days.

The price of ginger has also increased by Tk 10 and is selling at Tk 70 per kg. Indian onion is selling at Tk 15 per kg after increasing Tk three within the last three days, the salesmen said.

The price of garlic has also marked a sharp rise as it has been selling at Tk 56 per kg, which was Tk 32 just 15 days ago.

The price of soybean oil has risen by Tk four and is selling at Tk 56. The price of sugar has increased by Tk 4, salt by Tk one, and baby milk powder from Tk 12 to 15 for a one-kilogram packet.

The price of rice has increased by Tk two-three for per kg. But the gross rice seems to have disappeared from the market as nobody wants to buy it at such a high price, said a salesman in the market.

Now good quality miniket rice has been selling at Tk 26 per kilogram, and Nagirshail, another fine quality rice, at Tk 24. The minimum price of rice in Karwan Bazar was seen at Tk 18.

"See, within the last 10 years the price of rice has almost doubled. How can we survive?" said one buyer in the Hatirpool market. The government should always monitor the price of the kitchen market, but they never do it, he said.

The price of fish also marked a sharp rise. The price of local catfish rose to Tk 500 yesterday, when it was not more than Tk 350. Local ruhi was selling at Tk 160-170 per kilogram, up from Tk 140-150 two weeks earlier and Tk 100-120 just before. The price of all other fish has increased by Tk 20 to 30 for one kilogram.

The price of eggs also rose Tk 10 for one hundred eggs within the last two days due to the budget effect.

The price of broiler chickens has been selling at Tk 75 for one kilogram when it was Tk 64 just last week, the traders said.