Dhaka, Aug. 10 -- The demand for spices, mainly used in meat dishes, usually soars during religious festivals like Eid-ul-Azha when Muslims across the country sacrifice millions of animals. And there is no exception this time.

The prices are high even though officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) say the supply is adequate. Traders blame wholesalers for the price hike but consumers say lack of monitoring by the agencies concerned is the root of the problem.

Various spices, including cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf rose by 5 to 35 percent compared to the previous month, according to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data.

Cinnamon, for example, cost about Tk 160 more on Friday compared to last month's. Cardamo...