Essentials traders will be penalised for price hike

Vowing to keep prices of daily essentials stable during Ramadan, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon yesterday warned of legal action against unscrupulous traders for not following its price list during the holy month.

Quoting a survey which says there is an adequate supply of daily essentials and other goods, the DSCC mayor said there is no reason to hike prices of daily necessities during Ramadan.

He was addressing a meeting with leaders of business bodies from 13 city corporation's kitchen markets located in its southern part. There will be no scope to hike prices of essentials more than the fixed prices as six teams of the commerce ministry will monitor markets, said Khokon at the meeting held at Nagar Bhaban.

He also warned that unscrupulous traders will be penalised for selling formalin-mixed foods and date-expired products as well as deceiving consumers at weight.

Khokon said prices of essentials come down during Ramadan in other countries like Saudi Arabia but in Bangladesh it goes up as there is no justification here.

The businessmen at the meeting requested the mayor   to make the daily price list after visiting markets by officials  concerned. They also said some persons in wholesale markets remain behind market manipulation and requested the mayor to take action against them. In response, the mayor said they will also hold meeting with leaders of wholesale markets to keep the price stable.