Consumers are helpless due to the increased prices of vegetables, onions, potatoes and edible oil in the market. The prices of these products have been on the rise for several months. Although the price is set by the government to control the market, the traders do not follow it. Rather, they are selling at higher prices by showing thumbs to the policy makers.
The situation is like this - the buyer has to spend Tk 100-120 per kg of onion. 100 kg of new potatoes and 80 taka maximum for old ones. Additional cost of edible oil. Apart from this, the price of all kinds of vegetables except one is 60-80 taka per kg. Besides, the price of some vegetables is more than 100 rupees. In this situation, the buyers in the market are confused. Low and middle income people have suffered more.
Golam Rahman, former president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), said that buyers are hostages to traders. They are not even obeying the orders of the government. It has been observed that every time the price of the product has been fixed in the country, the sellers have sold the product at a higher price to the buyer without implementing it. But the regulatory agencies that will implement this price, they are also showing helplessness to the dishonest. As a result buyers are not getting any benefit.
On Friday, after visiting the capital's retail market and talking to the sellers, it is known that new potatoes were sold at Tk 90-100 per kg. And old potatoes are selling for 70-80 taka. Unscrupulous gangs have been manipulating potatoes since last few months. They are selling at high prices. In addition to strengthening government supervision on price control, the import duty on potatoes has been reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent. Low duty potatoes have also arrived in the country's market. But commission trading syndicates are very expensive.
According to sources, the cost of importing potatoes from India is 21 to 30 taka 60 paisa per kg. These potatoes are supposed to be sold at Tk. 25 to Tk. 28, including transportation and other expenses and profit. And the same potato at the wholesale and retail level should be 30-35 taka at the consumer level. But that potato buyer is buying at 75 taka per kg. And such a situation has been created by the importer and the Artaddar Syndicate of Shyambazar in Dhaka.
Talking to the sellers, it is known that even though the prices have decreased, in the retail market, good quality desi onions are selling at Tk 115 to 120 per kg, desi hybrids at Tk 110 to 115 per kg and Indian onion at Tk 98 to Tk 100 per kg. Besides, brinjal 60-80 per kg, bitter gourd 70 to 90, dhyasa 60, barabati 70, radish 40, lathi 60, dhundul 60 and patol 40 are being sold. And per kg papaya 40, carrot 130, kachur mukhi 80, tomato 120 to 140, beans 80 to 100, turnip 110 and cucumber are being sold at Tk 40-50.
Come to Nayabazaar to buy daily products. Al Amin said, when he comes to the market, he cries. All types of products are expensive. As a result, the family has to struggle.
c the buyers have to buy products at higher prices.
Talking to the sellers, compared to last week, the price of open soybean oil at the retail level has decreased by Tk 4-5 per liter and palm oil by Tk 3-4. Opened soybeans were sold at Tk 165-168 per liter on Friday. Besides, open palm oil is sold at Tk 157-159 per liter.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, there was a supply shortage of bottled soybeans in the market. Later, the government reduced the value added tax (Musak) on import of edible oil from 10 percent to 5 percent. Later, edible oil refining companies increased the supply of bottled oil. However, the companies are reducing the supply again in three to four days. Hence the sale of bottled soybean oil at the retail level has decreased.
According to the sources of the National Directorate of Consumer Protection, the information that there is no supervision in the market is not correct. On the instructions of the director general of the department, the markets of the whole country are being monitored every day of the week. Penalties are being brought under the law due to irregularities. However, if there is any irregularity, the company will be closed in addition to the fine.
