Prices of various spices, including cardamom, clove, black pepper, cumin seed, onion, garlic and ginger have shot up at markets in districts ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, which falls on September 25.
In Jhenidah, prices of spices have risen by Tk 30 to Tk 150. Local people say they are unhappy about the price rise of the spices due to lack of monitoring.
Sarkar, a businessman at Ta-Bazaar, said prices of all types of spices rose over the past 15 days.  
He said cinnamon price was Tk 230-Tk 260 per
kilogram, but it is now selling at Tk 300-Tk 340 per kg, clove is selling at Tk 2,200-Tk 2,250 against Tk 2,000-Tk 2,050, cardamom at Tk 2,300 per kg against Tk 2,200.
Indian garlic is now selling at Tk 140 per kg against Tk 100 per kg last week, Burmese ginger at Tk 80-85 per kg compared with Tk 70-75 per kg last week, while Indonesian ginger is being sold at Tk 150 per kg against Tk 130 last week.
The rise in the prices of spices has been attributed to short supply and buying pressure from the consumers ahead of the Eid, when the Muslims sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah and organize feast at homes.
Traders said the import of spices dropped this year because of loss they suffered in the previous years. They also blamed higher import duty for the short supply of spices in the markets.
Indian onion is now selling at Tk 75-80 per kg against Tk 65-70 a week ago. Raisin is selling Tk
400-Tk 420 per kg and chinese nut at Tk 120-Tk 130 per kg.
Kaniz Afroza, a housewife of Chutliya village in Sadar upazila said, “How can we manage our monthly budget if prices go up like this.”
President of Jhenidah Chamber of Commerce Mir Md Nasir Uddin said majority of the spice items like ginger, onion, garlic, clove, black pepper, cardamom are smuggled from neighboring countries. The country’s demand for spices is nearly 30,000-40,000 tonnes per year, but only 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes are imported through legal way. He also said they have to pay 61 per cent tax against every imported spice item which, he said, is beyond their affordability.
Secretary of Jhenidah Shop Owners Association Monwarul Islam Montu said the low quality and sub-standard spices are very unhealthy. Customers need to be aware about it and he strongly demanded local administration help them punish the dishonest people in the community.
In Noakhali, prices of cumin, imported ginger, local ginger, garlic, cinnamon have gone up in the past few days.
Wholesalers claimed that high demand and inadequate supply were the reasons behind the rise.
Imported ginger is now selling at Tk 100 and last week it was being sold at Tk 90 per kg, local
ginger is selling at Tk 110 against Tk 95 to Tk100 previously.
Rakibul Islam, a retailer of Chowmohani commercial hub, said on the occasion of Eid ul- Azha now he is selling spices worth TK 25,000 to 30,000 per day against Tk 6,000 to Tk7,000 in normal days.
Babul Das, another wholesaler, has complained about short supply and problem of transportation.
 Md Abdur Rahman, General Secretary Maijdee court municipality business Association, said spice prices usually rise before Eid-ul-Azha. There are reports of marketing adulterated species ahead of the Eid for making windfall profit.
Local Government deputy director Anupom Burua said a market monitoring team has been formed. “So, we will take necessary steps during the week.” He said a mobile court has stared drive against dishonest traders.