Restart year-long ration card system

The National Consumers Rights Movement (NCRM) yesterday demanded re-introduction of the year-long ration card system as scores return empty-handed after queuing for hours for commodities at a subsidised rate.

The prices of essentials are so prohibitive now that the general people cannot afford them even after cutting back on their daily expenditures, said Muhammad Ata Ullah Khan, president of NCRM, at a human chain in front of the National Press Club.

"Please visit the home of a day labourer and see what his family has for a meal to get the real picture. The situation will be worse during the upcoming Ramadan. Only the rich will be able to afford the commodities."

He went on to call for year-long ration cards, which were provided at the start of the pandemic as the economy went on recess.

With the card, one could buy 20 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 10.

At present, the government has provided family cards to 88 lakh low-income families.

Using the card, the household can purchase two litres of edible oil at Tk 110 per litre, two kg sugar at Tk 55 per kg, two kg of lentil at Tk 65 per kg twice: once between March 20 and March 31 and then between April 3 and April 18.

Otherwise, the syndicates will continue to hold people hostage at will by hiking the prices of essentials, Khan said, while demanding stern action against the syndicates.

On any pretext, the country's consumer goods market becomes unstable even if there are sufficient stocks.

For instance, the prices of essentials have increased several times for the Ukraine-Russia war. "The impact of the war should not be felt on items that are produced in the country or on most of the consumer goods," Khan added.