Some spices like dried chilli, ginger and garlic also rose steeply during the time.

A two-kilogram packet of atta was selling at Tk 35-36 last week against Tk 28-30 a week ago. A kilogram of pulses, especially masur , was selling at Tk 48-50 compared to Tk 42-44 of the previous week. A tin of powdered milk weighing a kilogram was selling between Tk 230 and 235, which was Tk 225 in the previous week.

In the city's Mohammedpur City Corporation Market, a litre of soyabean oil was selling at Tk 68 against Tk 58-60 two weeks ago.

"The prices of Kwality and Diploma packed powdered milk and of flour and soyabean oil shot up in the last two weeks and the prices of Dano milk powder are likely to shot up as the suppliers informed us about the price hike effective from next week," said Mohammed Rashid, a grocer at the Mohammedpur City Corporation Market.

In the city's Hatirpul kitchen market, a kilo of local dried chilli was selling at Tk 100 against Tk 95 of the previous week, a kilo of local garlic was being sold at Tk 60, up from Tk 55, and a kilo of ginger at Tk 60 against Tk 50 before two weeks.

Mohiuddin, a vegetables trader at the Hatirpul market, predicted that the prices of vegetables are most likely to go up from middle of the month as supplies are set to shrink. He however would not cite any reason for the short supply.

"The prices of soyabean oil is becoming dearer every day and currently remains beyond the purchasing capacity of the middle class like us," said Nazma Akhter, a housewife, who came to shop at Hatirpul kitchen market.

The prices of tomato, aubergine, bean, potato, okra and cucumber remained the same as in the previous week.

In Mohammadpur City Corporation market, a kilo of tomato was selling at Tk 10, aubergine Tk 16, bean Tk 12, potato at Tk 7 and okra and cucumber at Tk 16 each.