In keeping with the soaring trajectory of nearly all essential commodities, the prices of aromatic spices, commonly referred to as 'garam masala', have also witnessed a remarkable upsurge well ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
Cumin seeds have skyrocketed to Tk 800-900 per kilogram this week, surpassing all previous records.
A week ago, the spice was at Tk 700-750 per kilogram, whereas the current prices are nearly 100 per cent higher than those of a year ago, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Clove and cinnamon have also experienced a substantial 8-10 per cent surge within a week, with their current prices standing at 40 per cent and 15 per cent higher respectively, compared to the corresponding period last year.
Cardamom prices have exhibited an 8-9 per cent increase in just a week, aligning with the price recorded last year.
Meanwhile, coriander seed prices have surged to Tk 260 per kilogram this week, marking an astonishing 50 per cent hike in a mere seven days, according to the TCB.
Usually, the prices of garam masala rise prior to the Eid-ul-Azha festival. However, this time, rates of such spices have surged much earlier, considering that the sacrificial festival is still one and a half months away.
Juel Rana, a grocer in Dhaka's West Dhanmondi area, reported significant increases in the prices of locally grown spices such as onion, ginger, garlic, and imported ingredients of garam masala at the Moulovibazar wholesale market.
He said cumin experienced the highest price hike during this period.
Swapan Ghosh, a trader based in Chattogram, said that all garam masala items saw an increase of Tk 60-200 per kilogram in Chaktai-Khatunganj due to lower imports.
He said that cumin, in particular, was being wholesaled at Tk 760-780 per kilogram at Khatunganj.
Meanwhile, the price of onions rose by an additional Tk 5 per kilogram and was being sold at Tk 70-80 per kilogram on Wednesday.
Ginger was being sold at its previous high of Tk 300-380 per kilogram, while garlic was at Tk 160-180 per kilogram. Green chillies remained stable at its previous high of Tk 180-220 per kilogram.
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