The ministry of commerce (MoC) decided Wednesday to ban export of green chilli, brinjal, cucumber, lemon and coriander leaves to increase supply and keep their prices under control during the upcoming month of Ramadan.
"The steps have been taken to control the prices of essential commodities during Ramadan. The ban will be lifted after Eid-ul Fitr," Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told the media after a meeting with the heads of different departments on stock, supply and price situation of essential commodities during the moth of Ramadan at the conference room of the ministry.
He said the government has taken steps to control the prices of essentials during the month of Ramadan. The export ban will remain effective until July 31, 2014.
Regarding artificial price hike during the month of fasting he said, "We held meetings with the importers, wholesalers and retailers. They assured us of not hiking prices of commodities during the month of Ramadan".
He said the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has sufficient stock of essential commodities for the holy month. He said the government will import onion from Myanmar and Turkey following a sudden price hike in India.
He said the draft Formalin Control Act, 2013 will be placed in the next cabinet meeting. The draft law is expected to be placed in parliament during the current session.
He said the traders had informed the government of sufficient stock of edible oil, lentil, gram and sugar that will help keep smooth supply and prices stable during the fasting month.
Mr Ahmed said the government will take legal action against those who would try to create artificial crisis of essential commodities and price hike.
The government and the intelligence agencies have been strictly monitoring the situation. Overall supply of essential commodities and their prices are now stable in the markets.
The commerce minister said a total of 14 teams of the MoC have been monitoring the kitchen markets in the capital. The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) is also conducting raids in the markets across the country.
Besides, shops in the kitchen markets were directed to hang price charts of essential commodities in a visible place of their respective business establishment. The traders have been asked to maintain money receipts of buying and selling of commodities.
The DNCRP and the district administration will regularly monitor price charts at the markets in the districts. If any person/ organisation does not follow the government directives then legal action including suspension of business licences/ registration will be taken against them.
Meanwhile, the business community has welcomed the government decision on banning the export of five essential commodities. They said the decision will help keep the prices of essential commodities under control during the upcoming month of Ramadan.
"We welcome the government decision. We hope the prices of essential commodities will remain stable during the month of Ramadan," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed told the FE.
The prices of green chilli were between Tk 70 and Tk 80 per kilogramme (kg) on Wednesday which was Tk 60 last week. Brinjal is now selling at Tk 35-Tk 40 per kg. A kg of cucumber was sold at Tk 30-Tk 35 on the day which was Tk 20-Tk 25 during the past few weeks. A kg of coriander leaves was selling at Tk 150-Tk 200 per kg on the day. A hali of lemon (per four) depending on sizes and varieties was sold between Tk 20 and Tk 30 on the day.
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