Price hike before Ramadan must be controlled promptly
It is very important to work in an integrated way to control the price hike of essentials during the upcoming month of Ramadan, said speakers at a webinar yesterday.
The price of items which are in use during Ramadan are showing an upwards trend for the last two or three months due to failure in proper market monitoring during the coronavirus pandemic, said SM Nazer, vice president of Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
Market monitoring is also being done in an uncoordinated way, when it should be done involving city corporations, other relevant departments of the government, and representatives of the business community, and after that it will create impact on the local level, he said.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the webinar.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said they have formed a standing committee on price control and monitoring of market for the first time in DSCC and this nine member committee will start its work shortly.
Taposh also said they will conduct mobile court operations in this regard during Ramadan and have already taken preparation for this.
Delivering his speech as the chief guest, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said though in other countries price of essentials are reduced during Ramadan, the matter reversed in Bangladesh.
Urging business leaders to come forward, the home minister said they will provide all kinds of necessary support to control price hike so that consumers can get essential goods at a reasonable price.
He also urged BSTI to ensure the quality of products during this time.
Enayetullah, president of Moulvibazar Byabshayi Samity requested the government to allow wholesalers to keep their markets open for a certain time to ensure proper flow of supply chains across the country.
Mohammad Golam Maula, a businessman, said there is a big gap in price of essentials between wholesale market and retail market and government monitoring should be done from production to retail level to get good results.
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