Prices to remain stable: official

The prices of essentials will remain stable even after Eid, said a government official yesterday.
Commerce Secretary M Ghulam Hussain expressed satisfaction over the prices of basic commodities during Ramadan, which he said did not see an abnormal hike.
“It is the outcome of proper coordination and hard work by the three parties -- the government, FBCCI [Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry] and businesspersons," he said.
The commerce secretary also said the government would continue to charge zero duties on imported raw sugar and levy half the duty on imported refined sugar -- Tk 2,000 down from Tk 4,000 a tonne from mid-September.
Hussain has also promised to keep the prices of edible oil in check.
“We have now have nearly three lakh tonnes of edible oil in reserve, so, there is no shortage of supply,” said Hussain.
Anwar Habib, president of Bangladesh Sugar Merchants Association, said sugar prices will come down to Tk 47 at retail levels within two days because of the zero duty.
AK Azad, the president of FBCCI, said the government has already formed a three-member committee to identify the "unscrupulous businessmen who are manipulating the market for their own interests".