The new prices of five daily commodities set by the government in different markets yesterday in the capital Dhaka were not seen to be effective. The Ministry of Commerce fixed the prices of eggs, potatoes, onions and edible oil last Thursday. Apart from this, the price of sugar was fixed in advance. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi mentioned the fixed prices of these five products on that day and said that it will be effective in a day or two.
According to the price fixed by the government, eggs are supposed to be sold at Tk 12 each, potato at Tk 35-36 per kg, onion at Tk 64-65 per kg. Apart from this, open sugar is to be sold at Tk 120 per kg and packaged sugar at Tk 125 and bottled soybean oil at Tk 169, open oil at Tk 149 and palm oil at Tk 124 per litre.
Yesterday, visiting the Mohammadpur, Taltala and Karwan markets of the capital, these products were not seen to be sold anywhere at the mentioned prices. Organizations working on consumer rights and businessmen have claimed that the government will not be able to reduce the prices of five products if they do not increase the import and supply.
Even before this, after fixing the prices of daily commodities from the government, it was not seen to be effective. In April this year, the government had reduced open sugar from 107 to 104 rupees and packaged sugar from 112 to 109 rupees. But the traders did not accept that price. At that time, sugar was sold at the rate of Tk 112 to 115 per kg in the market.
Then last June, the government increased the per kg sugar by Tk 16 and set open sugar at Tk 120 and packed sugar at Tk 125. But that price didn’t work either. Now sugar is being sold in the market at 135 to 140 taka per kg. The government has fixed the price of potato for the first time in the last six months.
Last August, the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Bonaspati Manufacturers Association reduced the price of soybean oil.
At that time, bottled soybean oil was reduced by Tk 5 to Tk 174 per liter from Tk 179 and open oil was reduced to Tk 154 from Tk 159.
Price of 5 products in the retail market
At around 12:30 noon, it was seen on the ground at Taltala’s Abul Bashar Market that potatoes are priced at Tk 50 per kg, desi onions at Tk 80 to Tk 90 per kg, Indian onions at Tk 70 each, eggs at Tk 12 each from Tk 50 paise to Tk 13, open sugar at Tk 140 per kg, A liter of bottled soybean oil is Tk 174.
Around 12:30 noon, local onion was being sold at the price of Tk 90 per kg at Keraniganj General Store in the market.
When Ziaul Haque, the owner of this establishment, asked the reason for keeping the price of the product high, he told Kal Kantha, “Yesterday (Thursday) night, I bought desi onions from Karwan Bazar at Tk 80 per kg. There are travel expenses. So don’t buy less than 90 rupees.
He said, “We are selling potatoes at the rate of Tk 50 per kg.” When talking about the new price set by the government at Tk 36-37 per kg, Ziaul Haque said, “The raw material cannot be held by fixing the price.” It is scheduled tomorrow. When new goods arrive, the price will decrease. I bought it at a higher price. There is a memo. Each dozen of our eggs has been bought for more than 147 rupees. I am selling at 150 taka per dozen.
In Mohammadpur town hall market, potatoes are being sold at Tk 50 per kg, desi onions at Tk 85 to Tk 90 per kg, eggs at Tk 150 per dozen or Tk 12 per dozen at Tk 50 paise each. Traders of this market. Meezan said, these are just price fixing. They are of no use.
Maizuddin, another trader in this market, hangs the price list in the shop. He is selling Indian onion at Tk 65 per kg and desi onion at Tk 80 per kg. “If people are honest, the prices will come down,” he told Kal Kantha about the price reduction.
Wholesale market price
It can be seen that all the products are being sold at higher prices than before in the Karwan Bazaar of the capital. No pricing effect. Wholesale traders say that cold storage has kept high prices. In addition, import costs are high. There is also a shortage in supply. The price is not decreasing for this.
the egg
Red eggs are being sold wholesale at Tk 145 per dozen in this market. Wholesale seller. Mohiuddin said, “We bought eggs from Tejgaon station. A little less than before.
potatoes
Potatoes are available at both wholesale and retail prices in Karwan Bazar. Waheed Sheikh, the vendor of Bikrampur Bhandar in this market, is selling red potatoes at the rate of Tk 40 per kg. He said, “We go to the base first (in cold storage). If we get less from there, we will sell less. These are bought at the previous price. When these are finished, I will sell them at a lower price.
onion
Indian onion wholesale was selling at 55 taka per kg and domestic onion at 65 taka per kg in Karwan Bazar. Wholesale onions are sold at Minhaj Trade. The owner of this place. Khalil Mallik said, “Those who grow onions, they are not selling them at low prices. We also have to bring in higher prices. As a result, the price has to be sold higher.
How the fixed price will be effective
Director General of National Consumer Protection Directorate AHM Safikuzzaman said that the MRP should be written on the oil bottle and given when it comes to the market. Have to wait a bit.
He said, “The price of eggs increased by 15 taka per piece. We raided and brought it for 12 and a half rupees. Now if it is to be 12 taka, it should be brought down to 10 and a half taka at the firm level. Ask the Department of Fisheries and Livestock to look into it.’
Safikuzzaman said, ‘Potatoes are being sold at 39, 40, 41 taka per kg at the gate of cold storage. Now give it some time to fix in the freezer. DCs are getting involved. Our officers are going. I am going to Munshiganj tomorrow. Then I will go to Bogra, Rangpur. It will take four to five days. The price of cold storage potatoes should be reduced to Tk 27. If it decreases there, we can bring it to 36 rupees at the consumer level. If they do not keep it at a low price, then I will seize all the potatoes in the cold storage and sell them at auction.
He said, “Desi onion which is being sold at 80 taka, to reduce it by 15 taka, we have to work in Faridpur and Pabna haats. We will soon have a Zoom meeting with the DCs from the Ministry of Commerce.
In this regard, Bhola District Commissioner Arifuzzaman told Kal Kantha that there are plans to increase mobile courts, joint operations and market inspections to keep the market stable as per the government’s instructions.
Shakil Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner of Dinajpur, told Kal Kantha, “No instructions have come yet regarding fixing the prices of some products. I will take action if I get the government’s instructions.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandkar Yasir Arefin told Kal Kantha that monitoring surveillance will be increased to keep the market stable. The market is being visited along with the officials of consumer rights and other organizations.
What consumer organizations are saying
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Prof. Golam Rahman told Kal Kantha that businessmen of all levels are trying to make huge profits. In this context, the government has calculated the profit and fixed the price. It seems logical. But without controlling the reasons for its implementation and creating an environment of high inflation and inflation, automatically fixed prices cannot be implemented.
Importers are asking to increase supervision
Tasnim Shahriar, deputy general manager (DGM) of Meghna Group, a sugar-oil importer and distributor, said, “Government supervision should be increased in Kholabazar. We are delivering properly. There is no crisis here. Government supervision should be increased. Price of packet sugar is written. No one will take more than 135 rupees for a packet of sugar.
