SALT crisis has hit the market selling it at Tk 42 per kg before the Eid-ul-Azha when use of salt in tannery industry shoots up manifolds, besides its use at domestic cooking. It is a total mismatch in the market allowing traders to make big windfall profit as the government has apparently left it to their control. Salt prices shoot up by 47 percent as on Sunday compared to Tk 25 per kg in September last year. It has shot up by Tk 7 per kg as per media report over the past four weeks.
Tannery industry sources decried the cost of a sack of 80 kg salt at Tk 1300 which was around Tk 600 last year. Salt is used for processing of raw skin of sacrificial animals. Moreover household users feel totally helpless as prices of other spices are also on steady rise as their use shoot up many times this time.
The salt crisis hits the market immediately after sugar crisis pushed the price at Tk 80 per kg from two months back compared to Tk 45 early this year. Meanwhile, local onion is selling between Tk 40 and Tk 45 as against imported one between Tk 35 and Tk 40. Garlic sells at Tk 200 kg and ginger sells at Tk 120 from Tk 120 and 90 per kg respectively several weeks ago. The list goes up but question remains as to why the government is leaving the market to hoarders and retailers without enforcing disciplinary actions to protect consumers. As for salt crisis, Senior Commercial Ministry officials said over one and a half lakh ton of imported salt will reach the market soon to stabilize the market. But it appears a routine explanation during all such crisis.
For salt crisis the government blame shortfall in local salt production over the past two seasons because of bad weather at Cox’s Bazar coastal belt where the bulk of local salt production takes place. It also claims that it did not allow salt import earlier to protect local salt producers.
The explanation of the government itself makes it clear that the government is collaborating in creating opportunities for others to extort money from the people when they are generally in financial hardship.
