Staff Reporter :
Political parties and right based organisations have slammed the government’s decision to hike the price of the edible oil, particularly Soybean oil effective from May 6.
They said, the government has only considered the demands of the ‘profit-mongering’ businessmen while the consumers’ rights have been overlooked.
Defending the price hike of the edible oil, the government on Friday held the Ukraine-Russian war impact responsible for the increase of the price of oil and the government has nothing to do.
Meanwhile, VOCTA, a voluntary consumer training and awareness organisation, on Friday in a statement demanded withdrawal of the ‘unreasonable’ decision to price hike of the edible oil particularly Soybean oil.
The organisation in a statement on Friday said the government’s decision to tag the price hike of edible oil by about 24 per cent under the duress of the profit-mongering businessmen is completely unreasonable.
VOCTA Chairman Prof. Dr. Hossain Uddin Shekhar and its Executive Director Khalilur Rahman Sajal urged the government to review such decision immediately and to re-fix the price of edible oil based on the opinions and purchasing capacity of the consumers.
They have also called upon the government to stop the price manipulation of edible oil by a section of dishonest businessmen.
The organisation said that it was imperative to seek consumers’ opinions and to consider their purchasing capacity before tagging new price with the edible oil but their opinions are not heard.
Only the demands of the business groups are considered and such decision is not consumer-friendly, they added.
The organisation claimed that the existing oil stocked in the market was imported through the letter of credit (LC) at least three months ago. Then the price of oil was lower compared to the international market.
On the other hand, the President of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna in a statement said, the government fined the retailers for selling edible oil at a high price before Eid-ul-Fitr but now the government itself increased the price within a span of three days.
So, the government now has to pay the fine, Manna said, adding that the government has failed to control the commodity price and
to establish the rule of law. “The commodity price is now out of the reach of the middle income people. The government staged a drama before Eid and held the business syndicate responsible. The government fined the retailers for selling oil at a high price. Now the government itself increased the price within a span of three days,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, the price of Soybean oil has been increased due to the impact of Ukraine war.
Defending the price hike, he said, “The oil price has been doubled in many countries including our neighbours. The reason is Ukraine war impact.”
“The price of foodstuff, oil and fuel is on the rise around the globe. Bangladesh is not an isolated island. The price impact will diffuse everywhere. There’s nothing to do,” he told the journalists while visiting the Dhaka-Narayanganj Link Road work in Narayanganj.
Asked about re-fixing the price, Quader said, “People will not suffer. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a crisis manager in the truest sense. Under her prudent leadership, she saved the country during pandemic. Crisis will create but we need courage to tackle it. Prime Minister has the courage and honesty.”
The announcement of the price hike of edible oil came following a meeting between the Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and representatives of the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association on Thursday.
The new price of per litre of bottled Soybean oil was fixed at Tk 198 and the five litre of bottled Soybean oil at Tk 985.
Besides, the price of loose Soybean oil was fixed at Tk 180 per litre and Palm oil at Tk 172.
