Spice prices skyrocketing in Sylhet ahead of Eid

The prices of all varieties of spices in Sylhet retail markets are on a rollercoaster ride, increasing everyday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha just three days away.
Taking advantage of soaring demands, prices of cinnamon, cumin, clove, cardamom, black pepper (gol morich) and chili have shot up to Tk 75-250 per kilogram while prices of coriander, ginger, garlic, onion, soyabean oil and mustard oil increased by Tk 70-80 per kg within a week in different town and others markets on Sunday.
These spices are heavily used during Eid festival when the Muslim communities sacrifice animals and consume their meat in large quantity. Cumin price increased by Tk 50 to Tk 350 a kg, cloves by Tk 100 to Tk 1,800 a kg, cardamom by Tk 100 to Tk 1,600 a kg, red peeper by Tk 50 to Tk 250 and cinnamon by Tk 50 to Tk 400 a kg over the week.
The prices of onion, garlic and ginger increased by Tk 20 to Tk 40 a kg in Sylhet’s retail markets. The local onion was selling at Tk 80 a kg while the imported onion was selling at Tk 60 to Tk 70 a kg on Sunday. The local garlic and imported garlic was selling at Tk 65 a kg and Tk 60 a kg respectively at the same time ginger was retailing at Tk 120 a kg to Tk 150 a kg on the day.
ALmas Ali, a grocery shop owner at Bondor bazaar told that the wholesalers increased the prices of spice by Tk 50 to Tk 150 per kg compared with the last week.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Sylhet unit president told lack of monitoring over the markets responsible for the price hike of essentials. “It is a common thing that the spice prices go straight-up before Eid-ul-Azha every year.