Price hike in Ramadan

It has become a tradition that the prices of almost all essential commodities like chickpea, lentil, onion, sugar, and edible oil would go up before and during the holy month of Ramadan. In spite of the commerce minister's commitment to keep the market stable throughout the month of fasting, the prices of Ramadan essentials have already gone up several times, creating suffering for the fixed income group.

Efficient management and strict monitoring are essential to keeping the market stable. We urge the TCB and the commerce ministry to intervene by taking stern actions against the unscrupulous traders who create this artificial crisis for making profit, without caring about the common people.

Juel Rana, University of Dhaka