Reining in Ramadan-centric prices

Rise in the prices of essential commodities is an annual affair in Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramadan. This year the trend was triggered well before the start of the fasting month. The prices of essentials and items whose consumption increases in this month are skyrocketing.

Traders sometimes point to the international market for price hike. Such an explanation, however, appears to be invalid because most of the kitchen items are grown by our farmers. Rather, we can question how most of the Middle East countries that rely largely on imported food items have been able to launch massive discounts on thousands of products during the month of fasting.

Ramadan is supposed to be a month of charity and blessings, but in Bangladesh, it becomes a time of spiralling food prices and hoarding. A profit-mongering attitude of traders is feared to further escalate prices unless effective measures are taken. The authorities must be stringent against errant traders and hoarders to keep the market stable. They must also be mindful of protecting the poor's interests and introduce other support programmes to help them.

Md. Moyen Shikder,

Student of Dr. Abul Hossain University College, Rajbari