Business Desk :
Businessmen of a discussion at Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on Tuesday observed that the stock of essential commodities are in good condition now and there is no reason for price hike in the month of Ramadan starting from the next month.
They came up with the observation at a discussion at DCCI auditorium in the city, said a press release.
Commerce Secretary M Mofizul Islam was present at the discussion as the chief guest while DCCI President Osama Taseer delivered the welcome speech.
Mofizul Islam said due to volatile nature of market, sometimes everybody see price spiral of essential commodities in the month of Ramadan.
He asked the traders of specialized business associations not to increase price of essential commodities ahead or in the month of Ramadan.
He also said that stock of every essential item for the consumers are in plenty at this moment, so there is no reason for being panic. He called upon the businessmen to do business in an ethical manner.
Osama Taseer said everybody saw some price spiral of some of the essential items like chick-pea, sugar, rice, milk, edible oil, dates and grass-pea in the previous years.
“According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), during March-April, 2019 prices of some items have been increased up to 26 percent. Traditional supply system, artificial crisis by illegal hoarding, lack of market monitoring, extortion in transportation sector, traffic congestion and increased transportation cost might be the reasons behind this,” he added.
He appreciated TCB’s role for selling essential commodities in the open market to break the monopolistic nature.
He requested the government to expedite this initiative of TCB in the district and upazila level to ease the price of daily needed commodities.
He recommended for speedy custom clearance of necessary products at the port, stern action against extortion in the transportation sector, effective market monitoring system, evening banking facility and displaying prices in the market.
Leaders of specialized business associations took part in the open discussion session. They requested the government to identify the reason of price gap between the wholesale and retail market.
DCCI Senior Vice President Waqar Ahmad Choudhury gave concluding remarks.
