, March 20 -- ul-Fitr approaching, kitchen markets across the capital have witnessed a sharp spike in the prices of essential commodities, particularly spices, meat, and fish.

Visiting various kitchen markets on Friday (March 20) revealed a trend of rising costs for festive essentials, though vegetable prices have notably remained stable or even decreased as traders prepare to leave for their village homes.

The most significant volatility was observed in the market for spices, where prices have jumped by Tk 50 to Tk 200 per kg within a few days. Cardamom (Elachi) has seen the steepest hike, now retailing at nearly Tk 5,000 per kg-an increase of Tk 220-250 from just last week.

Other spice prices have also climbed. Cinnamon is selling fo...