Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Leaders and activists of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB ) only member of Consumers International (CI) in Kishoreganj on Friday sought exemplary punishment for corrupted traders to halt the spiralling prices of daily essentials ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
The non-government and non-profit voluntary organisation CAB demand during a protesting meeting at Kishoreganj district office, the rising prices of essentials.
Kishoreganj ‘s CAB President Alam Sarowar Tito claimed that income of the mass people had reduced significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, a vile competition to raise prices of daily essentials has been going on by some deceitful traders.
“Although, prices were stable during the lockdown, later prices of all essential commodities including vegetables , eggs, chickens, soybean rose ominously. There is no single essential left in the market that hasn’t witnessed a price hike”, CAB President added.
We are speaking of a problem of 17 crore people in the country. We sought remedy from the government at different times, but in vain. Although the government has taken few measures now, but failed to control these corrupt traders”, he explained.
“Currently, the government had raised the prices of essentials following the footmark of private traders, while another dreadful competition to hike prices of gas, electricity and water is also underway”, CAB said.
Executive President, CAB in Kishoreganj advocate Maya Bhowmick said, People from low income community are grappling to sustain their livelihood while many are failing to run their family expenses and choosing to commit suicide, she said, adding that, “The government has to be stricter against the corrupt traders. This is because if you warn them, they won’t listen. We want exemplary punishment for them.”
District Secretary Monowar Hossein Rony said, The deceitful traders should be kept in rein immediately, otherwise prices of essentials will hike further ahead of Ramadan insisted. Raised the prices of essential commodities in the name of price hike in the global market.
They even hiked the prices of cattle taking advantage of the situation. Traders who are dishonest, greedy for profit and hoarder, should be brought to justice and awarded with exemplary penalty”, CAB secretary said.
