The cost of living in Dhaka went up by 6.5 per cent in 2019 due to hike in prices of commodities and services, said Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).

CAB President Ghulam Rahman unveiled a report on the cost of living and other consumer issues at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today.

According to the report, living cost in the capital rose by 6 per cent in 2018.

Onion was the much-talked-about kitchen item in the previous year, said Ghulam Rahman adding "Locally grown onion price increased by 49.52 per cent and price of imported one rose by 71.11 per cent on average in the previous year."

The CAB president said vegetable prices increased by 8.13 per cent in 2019. Besides, prices of spices also saw a remarkable hike, he said.

"The rate of unemployment among educated people increased by 34.3 per cent last year. Unemployment is growing day by day but thousand of foreign workers are working in Bangladesh," he added.