The price situation, especially of vegetables and spices, stayed the same since the last rise three weeks ago. The prices of soyabean oil, atta, pulses and ginger, which saw a significant rise in the previous months, appear unlikely to come down immediately, traders in the city kitchen markets said.

In the city's Hatirpul kitchen market yesterday, per kilogram ginger was selling at Tk 65-70 from Tk 35-40 three weeks ago, soyabean selling at 58-60 a litre, a two-kg packet of atta at Tk 32, up from Tk 28 only 3-4 weeks ago, and pulses especially masur (lentils) was selling at Tk 44.

In the same market the prices of all sorts of powder milk like Dano, Diploma, Kwality and other baby foods remained unchanged as they were for the last two to three weeks.

In city's Palashi kitchen market per kilo tomato was selling at Tk 10-12, potato was selling at Tk 8-10, local beans Tk 12-15, cucumber Tk 12-14, papiya Tk 10, aubergines Tk 12-15, green chilli Tk 20-22 and barbati at Tk 20-24.

"The prices of green vegetables are likely to increase if it does not rain by this week," said Anwar Hossain, a vegetable trader in the Palashi kitchen market.

"As the vegetable market in the capital city entirely depends on the supply from across the country, the vegetable gardens in the rural areas being hit by the want of rain would affect the supply badly leading to a price hike in the city markets," Anwar added.

In city's Karwan Bazar wholesale market per kilo local onion was selling at Tk 15-16, Indian onion at Tk 13-14, per kilo local grown garlic was selling at Tk 36-38, Indian garlic at Tk 26-28, per kilo masur was selling at Tk 40, green chilli at Tk 14-16, tomato at Tk 8-10 and potato at Tk 8-9.

"As some parts of the country have been rainless for the last five months,a price hike of vegetable is imminent," said Abu Mia, a vegetable trader in Karwan Bazar.