The FBCCI president urged businesspeople for keeping prices of basic commodities within people's reach by not making unreasonable profits during the month of Ramadan at a meeting in Dhaka yesterday.
Annisul Huq claimed that prices of several basic commodities declined to some extent since the onset of Ramadan due to strict monitoring of the prices by the apex trade body and other government agencies.
"It is true that the prices of basic commodities in the local markets have not increased abnormally this year at the onset of Ramadan, contrary to what has been the case in the previous years," Annisul claimed.
He said basic commodity prices have started to decline, adding that the retail price of a kilogram of green chilli was Tk 100-110 on the first day of Ramadan, which is now selling at Tk60-Tk80 per kg.
Quoting from a chart showing comparative price of essential commodities at different times, prepared by FBCCI Price Monitoring Cell, he said local variety of onion was selling at Tk23-Tk26 per kg at Karwan Bazar and Shyam Bazar wholesale markets yesterday, while the prices ranged from Tk24 to Tk30 at these two markets on September 3.
Similarly, the prices of almost all other essential commodities including brinjal, garlic, ginger, potato and cucumber declined at wholesale and retail markets of Dhaka in varying degrees due to strict monitoring of the prices.
Chief of the price monitoring cell of FBCCI Kamal Uddin Ahmed said edible oil of different brands in five-litre containers was selling at Tk 525 yesterday as compared to its previous selling prices of Tk 575-Tk 580.
Annisul Huq said FBCCI must do something about the price hike of essential commodities, as almost all businessmen are the members of the association. He said he would continue his visits to the city markets during Ramadan to check on the prices of essentials.
He urged the wholesalers to give vouchers to the retailers for transparency in pricing of the commodities.
Annisul Huq said the government has assured them of readjusting the fuel prices as its prices in the international market declined significantly in recent trading. "The prices of essential commodities depend on fuel prices," he said.