Md. Atikur Rahman :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently has asked the business community not to raise the prices of essentials, including sugar and edible oil, during the upcoming Ramzan. On the other hand, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has also said the traders have to ensure fair price of essential commodities in the holy month of Ramzan. “Supply and stock of essential commodities are normal and there is no shortage . . . so, no price hike in Ramzan,” he added. In a review meeting on essential commodities for Ramzan, the minister said there is no problem in supply chain that is why there is no logical scope of price hike. “The traders have to set instances playing responsible roles in the upcoming Ramzan,” said Tipu seeking cooperation from the traders. The commerce minister also cautioned that the law enforcement agencies would take stern actions if anyone tries to hike price of essential commodities artificially.
During the month of Ramzan, such types of statements from Prime Minister and Commerce Minister are appreciating in the price control of the essentials. But sadly, when Ramzan comes every year, traders increase the price of essential commodities. There is no hesitation in saying, the rise in consumer prices in Ramzan has become a regular phenomenon in our country. Of course, from wholesale to retail merchants, they all choose Ramzan as a month of earning money, which is not desirable.
Again, there are some unscrupulous traders in the society, who earn so much profit in this month that is much more than the whole year. Most consumer goods prices in Ramzan increase manifold more than normal prices. In general, consumers are affected. Despite requested by the government, businessmen prefer to go to their own policies. So, tThe government has to struggle to prevent the artificial price rise of different products. It is necessary to prevent traders from doing such illegal activities, it is more important to monitor them round-the-clock.
After the end of Ramzan, the price of consumer goods never returns to the previous state. This is one of the main reasons for consumers’ worrying for the price hike. We do not see any strong initiative from the respective government department to take any initiative to control this price. Generally, at the advent of the Ramzan month, the black marketers with the connivance of dishonest businessmen create artificial crisis increase the prices of goods, which is neither the most hateful act nor the punishable offense. The attempt to gain more profits by cheating the customers is largely inhumane and fraudulent. Such situations have a great effect on the lives of the people of the country’s limited income. Due to such unconvincing and unwelcome activities of traders, the prices go upward, which is necessary to control.
We want to see an end of this situation. Therefore, we believe that the government would instruct the authorities concerned to take appropriate measures to keep the price of the market stable during the month of Ramzan and to keep it at a tolerable level under the purchasing power of the people. With this goal, the ‘fair price control cell’ has been constituted to ensure the punishment of the unjust businessmen. In order to prevent them from increasing the price of goods, it is important to ensure stern legal action against them.
When the dishonest businessmen create artificial crises and want to inflame prices, the government will have to take remedial action by controlling and fixing the prices of the commodity market. Side by side, the government will have to increase the surveillance to implement the fair price fixation process. Besides, general peoples will also have to aware and vocal against this.
We want to see that good moral values would return to them who are involved in crimes, such as food adulteration and fraud. In order to prevent price hike, the government along with the honest people should come forward.
(Md. Atikur Rahman, Head PRO at BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology, [email protected])
