It demanded enactment of laws protecting the rights of consumers and prescribing harsher punishment, such as life sentence, for financial crimes involving Tk 5 crore and over and for smuggling of food items.

It also demanded that the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) be reorganised for importing essential commodities.

The demands are part of an 11-point proposal placed by the organisation to rein in price spiral and resist the illegal syndicate responsible for it.

Tushar Rehman, secretary general of the organisation, presented the proposals at the seminar held at the National Press Club.

The other proposals include setting up wholesale market at each entry point of the capital, expanding BDR-run Dal Bhat (pulse and rice) operation to district and upazila levels and launching crackdown on extortionists in the transport sector.

Gonoshasthya Kendra Chairman Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury said the prices of essentials are five times higher in Dhaka city than in rural areas.

He demanded that a price commission be set up in the country to control the price hike.

He also suggested that the government should allow farmers to keep their produce at BADC (Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation) godowns.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud proposed introducing food ration system for the people of low and middle income group.

It is the responsibility of the government to control the price hike of essentials, he added.

Amin Ahmed Chowdhury said the government should be careful so that the wealthy section of society cannot control the market.

He also said that unscrupulous businessmen have destroyed the TCB.

Other speakers observed that prices of some commodities are still going up despite withdrawal of duty on them, which proves that the illegal syndicate is still active.

Jatiya Party leader GM Kader, Awami League leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Syed Badrul Ahsan also spoke.