Consumers are crying in the market due to the increased price of products. Meanwhile, Ramadan is starting in March. And around this month, a class of unscrupulous businessmen have raised their heads. Manipulated Ramadan-based products to make extra profit. The syndicate is increasing the price since 4 months ago. In such a situation, the government is already in a state of disarray.
According to sources, this government is an apolitical government. The country is being run by advisers on a small scale. This made the syndicate even more reckless. It is expected that the prices of goods will increase during fasting. Therefore, the government is walking towards a compromise with the traders instead of taking a strict position to reduce the price of products. It has been decided to withdraw some kind of market monitoring by threats and law enforcement forces. A decision has been taken to try to control the market after discussions with several major importers. While doing these three tasks, the policy makers will see whether the prices of the products in the market are at a rational or irrational level. Also analyze whether there is a need to intervene in the market. Even if the situation is not normal, then strict measures will be taken to control the market.
Apart from this, the government is giving various benefits to the traders without going to strictness to make the price of the products bearable. LC is planning to raise margins on product imports. Traders can import goods by taking any amount of loan from the bank. Sufficient dollar supply is also being ensured for this. Moreover, some products have already been given duty reduction and zero duty benefits. Although the cost of import is reduced, the price in the market is not reduced. These benefits given by the government are going into the pockets of businessmen.
Meanwhile, the task force of the Ministry of Commerce along with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection is conducting the operation to restore order in the market. The sale of products at subsidized prices is being conducted through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh. Agricultural products are being sold at subsidized prices. In spite of this, 4 months before the start of the fast, the price of the products prescribed by the fast has started to increase due to the manipulation of the syndicate. Talking to the sellers of the retail market, it is known that at the retail level, chickpeas are being sold at Tk 130-140 per kg. Which was sold seven days ago for Tk 125-130. The price of this product increased by 5-10 rupees in a week.
Besides, the prices of all types of edible oil have increased in a span of 7 days. The sellers said that open soybeans are being sold at Tk 165 per liter. Which was 160 taka 7 days ago. Bottled soybean oil is selling at Tk 167-170 per liter. Which was Rs 165-170 a week ago. Besides, two liter bottled soybean oil is being sold at Tk 340. Which was 335 taka 7 days ago. Besides, open palm oil is being sold at Tk 156. Which was 150 rupees a week ago. And Palm Oil Super is being sold at Tk 160 per liter. Which was Rs 154 earlier.
Besides, at the retail level, each liter of bottled rice bran oil is being sold at Tk 200-210. Which was sold at 185-195 per liter a week ago. Also, five liter bottled rice bran oil is being sold at Tk 980-1050. Which was sold at 880-920 taka 7 days ago.
Officials of the district administration say that the task force committee formed under the leadership of the district administration has strengthened the market monitoring to keep the prices of daily commodities under control in Chittagong. Not only at the district level, but also at the upazila level, the task force committee is extensively monitoring the market. Besides, the district administration is also running mobile courts. The current government's directive is to break the syndicate at any cost and bring the commodity prices to normal levels. Taskforce members are monitoring various markets on a daily basis. They are not yet showing maximum rigor. The task force will enforce the law more stringently in the coming days if prices do not return to normal from abnormal conditions. If necessary, the business will be sealed.
Despite being imported, the price of onion in the market has increased again. Importers have increased the price of onion without any reason. In the space of a week, onion is being sold at a higher price of Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg in the retail market of the city. Domestic onion is being sold at Tk 130 to 140 per kg standard and imported onion at Tk 120 to 125 per standard. Domestic onion is being sold at a price of more than 125 rupees in the wholesale market. Imported onions are being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 115. But there is more or less 5 rupees depending on the standard.
Like onion, the price of potato has also increased. The price of potatoes has increased in Riyazuddin Bazar despite the availability of warehouses. Potatoes are being sold at 65 to 70 taka in the retail market. But last week the price of potato was 55 to 60 taka. Potato supply is normal. In addition, the import duty on potatoes has been completely withdrawn. But due to strong syndicates in the potato market, prices are not falling.
Shamim Hossain, a potato dealer in Riyazuddin Bazar, said, 'There is no denying that there is a syndicate in the potato market. Apart from the syndicates, the prices of potatoes are increasing at the freezer gate, which has an impact at the consumer level. The farmer's house potatoes are almost finished. Storage in the freezer is also at the last stage. Moreover, the farmers have picked potatoes early in the hope of more profit in the season. This is why the yield has decreased. Generally, early varieties of potatoes come to the market in November. Due to heavy rain this time, the farmer could not plant the seeds on time. Early potato planting has been delayed by two weeks due to non-availability of seeds from the government on time. There are also these reasons for increasing the price of potatoes.
The price of rice has also increased from Tk 100 to Tk 150 per sack (50 kg). In Pahartali and Chaktai wholesale rice markets, unscrupulous mill owners and artdars have increased the prices of all types of rice. Coarse rice increased more. Coarse rice (Gutiswarna and China Iri) is now being sold at Tk 53 to Tk 56 per kg in different markets of the city. Medium rice (BR-28 and Payjam) 60 to 65 per kg and fine rice (Miniket and Nazirshail) 70 to 80 per kg. But there is no logical reason to increase the price of rice.
The prices of vegetables have come down in the winter market. In the raw market of the city, dhandal, dhundal at Tk 60 per kg, patol at Tk 50 per kg, tomato at Tk 120 to Tk 150, beans at Tk 100 to Tk 120, long brinjal at Tk 70, bitter gourd at Tk 60 to Tk 70, cucumber at Tk 70, kachumuki at Tk 70. Fish supply increased as sea fishing began. All other fish except pangas-telapia are being sold at 180 to 300 taka per kg. Pangas 150 taka, Tilapia 160 taka, Laitya 170-180 taka, Kai fish 200 taka and Rui 250-300 taka. Different types of prawns are being sold from Tk 650 to Tk 1200 per kg.
