Dhaka, Feb. 2 -- Chickpea, a key component of iftar items during Ramadan, has registered a significant price hike even a month before the start of the fasting month.

Retailers in Dhaka are currently selling quality chickpea at Tk 140-160 per kg, while regular varieties are priced at Tk 120-130, according to local grocers.

This marks a sharp rise compared to last Ramadan, when prices ranged between Tk 110 and 130 per kg, according to data available with the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

Golam Kibria, a grocer in Jhigatola, says the price of quality chickpea has dropped slightly by Tk 10 per kg over the past week, but it is still Tk 25-30 higher than last year's.

He attributes this price surge to limited supplies from traders...