Dhaka, Oct. 4 -- After hovering around Tk200 or just above for the past two and a half months, green chillies have spiked to between Tk300 and Tk350 per kilogram. Round eggplant, once Tk150/kg, now goes for Tk220. Prices for most vegetables are edging toward Tk100 per kilogram. Sellers point to the Puja border closure with India and two days of heavy rain that damaged crops, while ordinary buyers lament that price increases have been ongoing due to weak market monitoring.

A tour of several Puran Dhaka markets on Friday showed that eggplants, already unaffordable for many in recent weeks, have risen again. Round eggplants that used to fetch Tk70 are now priced at Tk220 per kg. Long and white-round varieties have jumped by Tk20, now costin...