Price of sugar was Tk 28 in the wholesale market and Tk 32 in retail market till Thursday morning. While visiting the market last night this correspondent found sugar selling at Tk 34 per kg in the retail market and Tk 31 in the wholesale market.

Artificial crisis has been created in the market as duty has been proposed to be imposed on sugar in the budget, said a wholesale sugar trader at Karwan Bazar in the capital.

"We are buying sugar at increased price and we will have to sell it at a higher price to make profit," said the trader.

But, though reduction of duty on lentils and edible oil has been proposed, no impact on their market prices is to be seen.

Price of lentil was Tk 70 in the wholesale market and Tk 75 in retail market yesterday while soya bean oil sold at Tk 75-78 per kg in retail market.

The price of lentil increased Tk 5 per kg two weeks ago and it might have increased further if the duty was not cut, traders said.