Prices of essential commodities, especially the vegetables, rose during the last seven days in the district on short supply. People of middle and low-income groups are struggling to cope with price hike of daily necessities. Abdul Karim, a retail vegetable vendor at Bara Bazaar, said they have nothing to do as the supply of vegetables has declined. He said he purchased the vegetables at high rates from the wholesale market.   We are selling all kinds of vegetables as per market rate, Abdul Kayum another vegetable retail-seller of Narsingdi Natun bazar was also of the same opinion.  Local people said syndicate might be behind such sudden price hike of vegetables. Coarse rice is selling at Tk 40  per kg, medium quality rice is selling at Tk 45 and fine variety minicate Tk 48 and Nasirshail is selling Tk 50. Brinjal is selling at Tk 100 per kg against Tk 80 per kg, Papaya at Tk 40 against Tk 30 per kg,  bitter guard at Tk 90  per kg against Tk 70,  cucumber at Tk 40 per kg, potato Tk 28 per kg tahtw as sold at Tk 24 per kg a week ago, green banana per four pieces were selling at Tk 30 against Tk 20 last week. Green-chili was being sold at Tk 160 per kg,  long beans at Tk 80 per kg against Tk 70 a week ago. The price of  lentils has increased from Tk 110 per kg to Tk 115.