FBCCI to seek law-enforcers' help if price gap is not narrowed

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FE Report brAnnisul Huq, president of the FBCCI, Tuesday warned that assistance of the law-enforcing agencies would be sought if the price gap between retail and wholesale levels was not narrowed.brHe said this after inspection of two kitchen markets in the city on Tuesday morning. brA team of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) visited Karwan Bazar and New Market as part of the trade body's market monitoring programmes to rein in the prices of food and other essential commodities.brThe prices of food and other commodities rose sharply with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. It has been alleged that the traders are making higher profit taking the advantage of surging demand for commodities.brThere is a huge gap between retail and whole sale price levels. We will seek help from law-enforcing agencies to take necessary legal actions if the gap persists, Annisul added.brAnnisul also said the team formed with the representatives of Bangladesh Rifles, ministries of home, commerce and food will visit city's markets on regular intervals during the month.brFBCCI first vice president Abul Kasem Ahmed, vice president Abu Alam Chowdhury, chairman of FBCCI market monitoring cell Kamaluddin Ahmed were also present during the visits.brThe FBCCI leaders also met with the leading traders of the kitchen markets and urged them to keep prices at a tolerable level during the holy month.brRetailers during the inspection told the FBCCI team that they were forced to charge higher prices as they get poor supply from the wholesalers.brWhile visiting the markets, it was found that there were price lists hanging there, but they were not updated. brConsumers during the market inspection by the team alleged that the retailers hardly followed the price list.brRetailers at Bonolota kitchen market, adjacent to the New Market, told the team that they were selling mutton at Tk 270 a kg, beef at Tk 160 a kg .brBut consumers said that the butchers made the false statement to the monitoring team about the price. They charged much higher after the inspection team left the place.brAbdul Khalek, president of the Bonolata kitchen market told the team that they were trying to keep the prices of commodities at affordable level.brWe pledge that the prices of the food and commodities will not rise further, at least, during the holy month, Abdul Khalek told the team.brDuring the visit, the prices of onion, and garlic were selling at Tk 30 and Tk 28 a kg respectively at Karwan Bazar. At the market green pepper sold at 72 , ginger at Tk 90, cucumber at Tk 20, egg plant at Tk 42 a kg each. brHowever, chief of the FBCCI market monitoring team Kamaluddin Ahmed said they will inspect Gulshan-1 city corporation market and Mohammadpur market on the next Saturday.brWe think the regular inspection will help keep the prices of food and commodities at the kitchen markets, Kamal added.br