Holy Ramzan is not for greedy business

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THE Holy month of Ramzan starts from today with a surge in the pieces of essentials in the kitchen market to a new height. The government leaders said the market has enough supply and it is true because traders have imported essentials in huge quantity in the past months anticipating sudden rise in demand of such goods in this month. But why then the prices have phenomenally gone up by at least 20 percent for essentials like onion, garlic, lentils and spices surging of meat and mutton prices is also quite confusing. It is not a supply crisis but an artificial pricing crisis pressed by business syndicates. We say it must be held in check.
We appreciate the initiative of the two Dhaka City Corporations — Dhaka South City Corpn. and Dhaka North City Corpn. for fixing prices of some major items asking traders to hang the price charts for public information. They have fixed prices of beef, buffalo meat and mutton at Tk 475, Tk 440 and Tk 725 per Kg and have also decided to sell fruits free from chemicals for the benefit of city dwellers. In the first place, such price charts only cover a few items while the cost of majority of essentials like prices of gram, ginger, salt, sugar and green vegetables, which are used in huge quantity during this month have been left totally out of control.
Market report said traders are not selling beef and mutton at the City Corpn. rates at most market places. They are charging Tk 50 to 70 more per kg at their will. Chickens sell at exorbitant prices and fish market is on very high side. What is noticeable is that City Corpn. stalls for selling chemical free fruits at some city corners are claiming almost twice as much of price from open market places and it appears that many party men are controlling the decorated shops from behind to make their own fortune.
It should not be a matter of government coercing only, it should be for the sanctity of Ramzan that businessmen should restrain the greed of making high profit.
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