Dhaka, Sept. 22 -- A Tk 20 rise at the fuel pump is already travelling through the economy -- from vegetable trucks and long-distance buses to port transport and the daily budgets of low-income families.

Within hours of the new prices taking effect on Monday, traders were reporting sharply higher freight charges, transport operators were preparing to raise fares and consumers were bracing for another round of increases in food and everyday costs.

The government raised the prices of all four major petroleum products by Tk 20 a litre from Monday midnight.

Diesel now costs Tk 135 a litre, kerosene Tk 155, octane Tk 165 and petrol Tk 160.

The latest increase is the third rise in fuel prices this year, following earlier adjustments in Apri...