The recent hike in diesel price increased truck fares by 22-25 percent, leading to rice, vegetables and some essentials to become dearer in the capital.

This is worsening the plight of the people who are already struggling to meet their living expenses.

The prices of edible oil and flour, two essential commodities, shot up a few months ago after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. Wholesale prices of potatoes, onions, garlics, and gingers had already been high since the beginning of this month.

Onions in wholesale went up Tk 2 a kg and garlic and ginger by Tk 3 to 5 per kg over the last two days. Potatoes increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg.

Diesel is now Tk 114 a litre.

Visiting different kitchen markets in the capital over the last couple of days, The Daily Star found that prices of some commodities have increased by Tk 10-30 per kg.

Sazib Mia of Pallabi said he bought ruhi fish for Tk 300 each kg yesterday. Five days ago it was Tk 270.

"I bought a bundle of gourd leaves for Tk 30 and sonali chicken for Tk 300 per kg. I used to spend Tk 20 and Tk 260-270 for those," he said.

Yardlong bean was Tk 40-50 per kg, pointed gourd Tk 35-40, pumpkin Tk 25-30, snake gourd Tk 30-40, ridge gourd Tk 40-50 and green papaya Tk 30 at the kitchen markets in Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, Kalshi Bazar, Rupnagar, and Pallabi extension areas yesterday.

Retailers said prices of these vegetables increased by Tk 1 to Tk 3 a kg mainly due to increased transportation cost.

Darul Huda, a shopper, told this newspaper, "My employer will not increase my salary. How will I support my family with the limited monthly income of Tk 30,000?"

HIGH TRUCK FARES

Bachchu Mia, owner of Chandpur Rice Agency at Karwan Bazar, said he purchased rice from Chapainawabganj two days ago and brought it to Dhaka by a truck. Due to the increase in the fuel price, the truck fare went up to Tk 23,000 from Tk 18,000.

"We sold each 50kg sack of BR-28 rice for Tk 2,450 a few days ago. Now we are selling it for Tk 2,750," he added.

Noor Alam, manager of Matri Bhandar Store in the same market, said it used to cost them Tk 22,000 to bring a truckload of Indian onion from Satkhira. Now it is Tk 27,000.

Indian onion was selling for Tk 31 a kg at wholesale yesterday, up from Tk 30 five days ago.