The price of oil, sugar and potatoes is not decreasing
October 3, 20243 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: The price of oil, sugar and potato, the three essential food products in the daily commodity market, is not decreasing at all. The high prices during the Awami League government, almost two months after the fall of that government, products are being sold at the same high prices three years ago.

Consumers are struggling to buy these products in the inflationary market. They say that besides increasing the government's strict surveillance in the market, effective steps should be taken.

Then it is possible to bring the price under control.

It is said by the organizations that work with the consumers, that the government does not see proper initiative to reduce the prices of these daily products. As a result, traders are making excessive profits as before.

On August 21, the representatives of the anti-discrimination student movement held a meeting with the Bangladesh Competition Commission.

Representatives of several private companies including Meghna, City, S Alam, Deshbandhu, Edible Oil, TK Group were present in the meeting that day. At the same time, Ministry of Industry, Tariff Commission, Directorate of Consumer Affairs, Directorate of Agricultural Marketing, Bangladesh Bank and students of various universities of the country were present.

In the meeting, Dhaka University Public Administration Department students. Bin Yamin Molla gave a seven-day ultimatum and said that the price of soybean oil should be made at Tk 120 per liter, sugar at Tk 90 per kg and potato at Tk 25 per kg. This ultimatum was given to the concerned government institutions including the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture, Bangladesh Bank.

At the same time, the same ultimatum is given to all the private businesses that import and sell related products. But the price did not decrease even after a certain period. Soybean oil is now being sold at Tk 167 per litre, sugar at Tk 130 per kg and potato at Tk 65 to Tk 60 per kg.

If you want to know about this. Bin Yamin Molla said, "With the ultimatum to reduce the price of goods, we had a demand that those who are friends of the previous dictatorial government should resign." After that, Competition Commission Chairman Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty is no longer in his post.

We were supposed to have another meeting later, but due to the absence of anyone in that position, the other members of the commission are not able to coordinate in this regard. I will protest against the corruption-irregularities of the private companies involved in these products if they do not reduce the prices. We will protest with common people. I will meet with the competition commission. If they delay meeting with us, then we will discuss and give a program ourselves.'

He said, 'It has been almost two months since the new government came, but the main need of the people of our country is to reduce the price of goods, but there has been no significant change in this place. So people who gave so much life, gave blood, how their expectations were met? No results are coming.'

Mamun Ahmed, a private employee, came to Kalachandpur wife market in Gulshan-2 area of ​​the capital. When asked about the price of the product, he said that white potatoes are Tk 65 per kg. It should not be so expensive. Earlier this potato was between 25 and 30 rupees. But now more than double. It is not that there are no potatoes in the market, there is a shortage. There are potatoes, but the price is high. It can't be. The government should take immediate action in this regard.

Traders have reduced the prices of daily commodities for the first two weeks after the new government came to power, consumer activists say. But with the passage of time, the business syndicates have changed their color and are running strong as before. But no effective action is being taken by the government.

In this regard, Vice President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) SM Najer Hossain said that there is a syndicate in the market. Traders are now coming in a new form. Commodity prices were slightly lower for two weeks after August 5. After that, the businessmen realized that the current government will not do much about the businessmen. Because of this, they have kept their activities as before.

The importers say about the price of sugar, the government has to pay Tk 40 to Tk 42 per kg of sugar including all types of VAT-tax. This increases the price of imported sugar. On the other hand, they are under pressure due to smuggling of sugar from India. As a result, the price of sugar is not decreasing. Source: Voice of Time