Although the monsoon has not yet arrived in the country, vegetable prices in the market have soared after the recent rainfall.

A visit to several kitchen markets in the capital found that within a week, prices of vegetables had increased by Tk 10-20 per kg.

Md Hasan, who came to Mirpur Kazipara market this afternoon, said he bought cucumbers at Tk 120 per kg, kakrol (spiny gourd) at Tk 120, and papaya at Tk 80.

“Last week, I got cucumbers at Tk 100, kakrol at Tk 90, and papaya at Tk 60,” he told The Daily Star.

Asked about the reason for the hike, a shopkeeper said they had to charge more as they bought the vegetables at higher prices.

At Kazipara Bazar, jhinga (luffa), dhundul (sponge gourd), and borboti (yardlong bean) were selling for Tk 100 per kg. Dherosh (okra) was Tk 80, potol (pointed gourd) Tk 70, and tomato Tk 50. Potatoes, however, are not considered a vegetable in the market; at Tk 20 per kg, they offered some relief.

At East Shewrapara kitchen market, vegetables were Tk 10-20 cheaper last week, but today customers paid more as supply was somewhat lower.

Mosharraf Hossain, a retail seller in Kawran Bazar, said recent rains damaged papaya and cucumber plants when water reached their base. “For this reason, prices of papaya and cucumber have gone up slightly, and other vegetables have also risen by Tk 10-20 per kg,” he said.

Saifur Rahman Chowdhury Sujan, general secretary of the Kawran Bazar Paka Aarot Byabshayi Malik Samity, said, "Some vegetables were damaged due to rain, which contributed to the increase." He added that wholesalers often raise prices further when there is a decline in supply, another major factor behind the hike.