Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- Rains have dampened roads but lit a fire in the kitchen, with chilli prices in Dhaka's markets jumping by over Tk 100 in a week and vegetables climbing fast behind.

A visit to Saat Tola and Mohakhali kitchen markets shows that chilli which sold at Tk 200-240 per kg last week now ranges from Tk 320-350 per kg depending on quality.

Jahangir Hossain, a vegetable seller at Saat Tola, told bdnews24.com: "Several days of continuous rain have damaged the chilli plants. As a result, prices have risen at the farmer level. We are forced to sell at higher rates."

Oliur Rahman, a seller at Mohakhali market, said: "We bought chillies from Karwan Bazar at higher prices, so we have to sell at more. I'm not sure of the exact reason be...