Staff Reporter :
The government will reduce taxes on consumer goods, if necessary, to control the unusual price hike of the essential commodities.
It will also reduce import duty on consumer goods including edible oil to pull rein of the price hike within couple of days.
Besides, a task force is going to be formed in the next couple of days to prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of rising commodity prices.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal revealed the information after an intra-ministries meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on Sunday.
The meeting was held to review the sudden rise in prices of essential commodities in the country and probable situation in
the upcoming holy month Ramadan.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal presided over the meeting while Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid were present.
Besides, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, senior secretaries or secretaries of different ministries and Inspector General of Police Benzir Ahmed were also present.
Talking to the waiting journalists, Kamal said, “Taxes on consumer goods will be reduced, if necessary, to control the price hike of the essential commodities. Besides, the duties on some essential goods including cooking oil will be reduced at import stage shortly.”
“The price of edible oil is rising in the international market, which has hit our country as well,” the home minister said.
“We will take steps so that no one can increase the price of the consumer goods in the market by manipulating and by keeping stock of goods,” the minister said.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said a task force will be formed in the next couple of days to prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of rising commodity prices.
“We are clearly saying that no one will be allowed to take advantage from the price hike of the essential commodities,” he said.
“We will do our best by deploying our law enforcement agencies. We will form a task force in a day or two,” the commerce minister said.
Over the last few days, the prices of various daily commodities including edible oil, pulses, rice, flour, sugar, onion have gone up uncontrollably.
The people of lower-middle class and poor class are suffering from the unusual price hike. The Holy Ramadan is starting from the first week of April and the market is expected to become more volatile during this time.
