Prices of some spices in the retail markets have seen a significant rise ahead of holy Eid-ul-Azha, said consumers and small traders.
The prices of spices have started rising a couple of weeks ago.
Consumers fear that the prices might rise further as the spices will have high demand during the religious festival.
In the retail market, cumin is now selling at Tk 440-450 a kg, cinnamon at Tk 380-400 a kg, cardamom at Tk 1800 a kg.
The prices saw an increase of Tk 50 to Tk70 in the recent weeks, retail traders said.
In the wholesale market, the price of cumin is Tk 320-350 a kg, cinnamon Tk 235-265 a kg, cardamom Tk 1500-1800 a kg, according to Bangladesh Paikari Gorom Mashalla Babosayee Samity.
Garlic is selling at Tk 50-55 a kg while the Chinese variety at Tk 40-45 a kg, ginger at Tk 130-145 a kg while the Chinese variety at Tk 80, turmeric at Tk 190 a kg, coriander at Tk 120 a kg, raisin at Tk 350 a kg and cloves at Tk 900 a kg.
The retail and wholesale prices of these items vary a little.
Retail traders said that they usually sell these pricey ingredients in small amount (starting from 100 gram). So, they sell the items at a price higher than the wholesale price.
Besides, the duty imposed on the import of spices in the current fiscal year has an impact on the prices, they claimed.
However, the prices have remained mostly unchanged in the wholesale market and there is no possibility of price hike, wholesale traders said.
President of Bangladesh Paikari Gorom Mashalla Babosayee Samity Haji Md Enayetullah said there is no shortage of supply of spices in the wholesale market.
He also ruled out any possible price hike ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and said prices of some spices have decreased instead.
Wholesale traders at Karwanbazar echoed the same view, saying that the prices remained stable due to adequate supply.
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