While visiting different residential areas in the capital, including Green Road, Magbazar, Shahjahanpur, Khilgaon, Uttara, old Dhaka, Jatrabari, Demra, Basabo and Karwan Bazar, grocers were also seen busy piling up stocks of essentials.

Rice, pulses, onion, potato, soybean oil, mustard oil, flour, sugar and spices are on top of the list of such stockpiles.

City people have experienced a fresh price-hike recently as the government announced the new pay scale for the public service holders.

"We are already suffering much due to pay scale announcement and another price-hike is almost mandatory with the announcement of budget," said Nesar Ahmed, an employee of a private bank.

He said after withdrawing his salary on June 1, he bought 150 kgs of rice whereas his monthly need is 60 kgs for his five-member family.

"I stored rice first because it is a top priority, tomorrow (Saturday) I will buy onion, soybean oil and flour to last for at least two months," he said.

Mohammad Liakat Ali, owner of a grocery at North Shahjahanpur, said his sale grew much higher in the last few days compared to any time of the year except the Ramadan season.

Recalling the past, Golam Kuddus of Jatrabari kitchen market said prices of essentials, including rice, poultry birds, pulses, onion, potato, soybean oil, mustard oil, flour and spices, also shot up immediately after the budget was announced last year.