Staff Reporter :A syndicate is actively manipulating the country’s commodity market creating artificial crisis of essentials for making quick money during the holy month of Ramzan, according to a report of an intelligent agency.The agency, in its report, said a total of 670 people across the country have already formed an “unholy nexus” with the intention to destabilize the commodity market.Of them, 381 are businessmen and 289 extortionists.It also found direct link of 106 cop members in such process. The 33-page the report mentioning the names and addresses of the market manipulators has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) recently seeking its action.The intelligent agency produced the report after conducting field level investigations. “As the holy Ramzan is in the corner, dishonest traders have become active to manipulate the prices of essentials during the month to make windfall gain,” said the report.It also said that the prices of most essential commodities might shoot up if precautionary measures are taken immediately.The report observed that prices of some commodities have already started soaring across the country as the syndicate has become operative. “So, there must be vigilance at all levels to protect interest of the people from such market manipulation,” it added.The agency also made 11-point recommendations to the government for keeping the commodity prices at tolerable level during the Ramzan.When asked, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The New Nation on Tuesday that they have seen the report and measures are underway to prevent the activities of the so-called syndicate.He added the government is serious about the issue and it would not tolerate any attempt of price manipulation during Ramzan. “We have already advised the local administrations to keep vigil on markets forming market monitoring teams so that they can prevent the price manipulation,” he added.He hoped that the prices of essentials would remain stable during the Ramzan taking advantage of the government measures. Meanwhile, the transport operators have also joined the race of making quick money like the commodity players eying the upcoming Eid.In line with the plan, they have started preparation to bring their unfit buses and launches on roads and waterways to carry the additional number of homebound passengers during their Eid journey.Sources said the transport operators are now passing busy times to paint their unfit buses and launches to uplift their look to attract the passengers.
