BDR launches mega programme to rein in prices of essentials

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FE Report
The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has sought voluntary participation of students of colleges and universities to help it in the marketing drive of essential commodities to contain price hike in the market.
The BDR announced a mega programme Monday to bring down the prices of essential commodities in the local markets before and during the period of the holy month of Ramadan.
Sector Commander of BDR at its headquarters Colonel Mohammad Mojibul Hoque announced the short, medium and long-term programmes of the BDR for gaining an effective result from its on-going "Dal-Bhat Operation."
He said the BDR is going to conduct the operation on a large scale and it will require huge manpower.
The BDR has been encouraging voluntary supports from the students of colleges and universities.
He said the BDR will open 200 more outlets in the city for selling essential commodities at fair prices from September 1 next.
He said of the total 200 outlets, 100 will be operated directly by the BDR personnel, 50 by the members of the Ansar and 50 outlets by the volunteers like the students from colleges and universities.
"We will not pay any remuneration to the students. Rather, we will give them training. We may award them certificates after the successful completion of the operation," Mujibul Hoque said at a press briefing at Peelkhana.
He said five more wholesale markets in the city will be in operation before the Ramadan from where the retailers could buy different items at fair prices.
The BDR Sector Commander said two wholesale markets will be constructed in the city's Uttara area, besides one each at Shahidnagar, Jatrabari and Gabtoli areas.
The BDR will facilitate the growers to sell different essential commodities directly to the wholesalers and retailers without any intervention of the middlemen, he said.
When asked he said: "The middlemen also can do businesses in those markets as they are also a very important part of the whole marketing process, but, of course, in fair ways."
Replying to the queries of the newsmen, Mujibul Hoque said the BDR will not directly import any commodity, but it will purchase from the local markets and importers.
Mujibul Hoque said they have, so far, sold commodities worth Tk 300 million across the country under the Dal-Bhat Operation, which has started functioning since March 15 last.
"It is a matter of great regret that before the launching of the Dal-Bhat Operation, no ministry, department or agency of the government felt the necessity of market monitoring and responsibility for keeping the prices of essential commodities at a tolerable level," he said.