Dhaka, Jan. 28 -- Prices of essentials hugely consumed during Ramadan have registered a notable rise in a week, almost two months ahead of the fasting month, said market insiders.

Import crunch of goods amid upheaval on the dollar market and the hoarding of goods by a section of traders are the key reasons for such price hike, they added.

Prices of sugar, edible oils, wheat flour, chickpea, khesari, ginger, garlic, cumin seed, red chilli, potato, broiler chickens, beef and mutton further rose by 5.0 to 15 per cent in a week, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and city groceries.

Sugar price witnessed Tk 10-15 a-kg further hike, and sold at Tk 120-135 a kg on Friday - although the refiners fixed the price at Tk 107...