Uncontrolled
commodity prices
The livelihood of low-income people has become very difficult because the prices of daily necessities have been rising sharply for the last few days. Onion and chicken prices have gone out of control. Onion is being sold at taka 40 per kg, but now 80 takas per kg whereas onion production has increased this year as compared to the previous year. Thus, at the price of 120 takas per kg, broiler chicken at 175 to 180 taka, the salt of raw chillies has increased a lot now!
The price of green chillies is 200 to 220 taka per kg. Winter vegetables have arrived in the market before the onset of winter, but the prices of most vegetables have skyrocketed. Due to high prices, people with limited incomes have become extremely uncomfortable with the demand. From the beginning of the infection of corona virus, the prices of almost all the essential commodities including onion, rice, oil, eggs, vegetables, green chillies have gone up which cannot be controlled in any way. It is difficult to say how many people have suffered financially due to the corona virus.
The government has a responsibility to protect consumer rights. Necessary measures have to be taken to ensure that no one can destabilize the market through stocks, syndicates or any other unethical means. The law should be amended to provide severe punishment for these. The government should take the highest position in setting the price without giving priority to the demands of the traders. Consumers need to be properly informed about the reasons for the price hike. We hope that the government will take the necessary steps to keep the market stable.
Habibur Rahman Bappa
Teacher (Chemistry)
Blue-Bird High School and College, Sylhet
Youth in drug grips
Youths in our country are getting addicted to drug from their very early age. Personal trauma along with bad company can lead them to drug abuse, and often addiction. The negative impacts range from loss of appetite, malnutrition, infections, changes in personality, etc. to severe mental health issues and memory loss. Imprisonment and arbitrary detention of drug abusers only make things worse. Rehabilitation is the proper way to fix this problem, along with steps to discourage the use of drugs.
Md Shamim Hasan
Dhaka College
