The retail price of sugar shot up to Tk 150-155 a kg, thus battering the consumers further ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
The refiners raised the price defying the government's directive, according to business insiders.
The government-set price for sugar was Tk 120-125 a kg but consumers could never buy the item at such rate.
Sugar's market price was already Tk 130-140 a kg, has which witnessed a further hike by Tk 15-20 a kg in the last four days, according to groceries.
There was hardly any grocery with branded packet sugar.
Loose sugar was found selling at Tk 150-155 a kg, making a new record.
The Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association (BSRA) recently proposed to raise the maximum retail price of packed sugar to Tk 150 per kg from the earlier official rate of Tk 125. The MRP of loose sugar shot to Tk 140 a kg from Tk 120.
The BSRA wanted to make the rates effective from June 22, but commerce ministry asked it to move for any hike after Eid on June 29, according to media reports.
The BSRA gave the new proposal taking into account the current upward price trend of the key essential in the international market, increased lending rate, ship-delay penalty and refiners' production costs.
Despite any affirmation from the government, traders have raised prices, claimed Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) vice-president SM Nazer Hossain.
The hardship of commoners has risen further for another round of hike in prices of many essentials before Eid.
Mr Hossain said lax monitoring has been encouraging the traders to fix prices as per their wish.
He suggested that the government minimise duty on the import-dependent essential item, which is now 62 per cent (on crude sugar).
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