People scramble to buy face masks at a makeshift shop on a footpath in Paltan area of the city on Monday — FE photo Prices of different types of face masks have abnormally increased manifold due to their high demand, shortly after the authority confirmed three cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the country on Sunday.
Sellers in the city are demanding prices of face masks, hand wash and sanitisers as high as they can, as people are rushing to buy these items amid fear of being infected with the deadly disease.
The High Court (HC) directed the government on Monday to operate mobile courts to monitor market to check the price hike of items like masks, hand wash and sanitisers.
Meanwhile, a growing number of people across the capital were seen wearing face masks on Monday, as experts suggested using face masks and cleaning hands with sanitisers to stop being infected.
The experts also urged people to wear masks in right manner, so that those can protect them from various airborne diseases and dust as well as check spreading the deadly virus.
The experts, however, discouraged mass people from random use of face masks, saying it is unnecessary and increases panic among all.
During recent visits to several areas across the city, it was seen that sale of different types of normal and surgical face masks and their prices increasing in an unabated manner.
Rashedul Islam, a salesperson of face masks in the city's Paltan area said, "The prices of different types of face masks witnessed major hike since the first week of February." "But after the government confirmed cases of Coronavirus on Sunday, the prices soared within hours, and the hike trend went out of control on Monday."
The normal face masks, which were sold at Tk 20 per piece on Sunday evening, were being sold at prices above Tk 70 on Monday. Besides, the masks that were sold at Tk 10 (two pieces) on Sunday, were being sold at Tk 30 to 50 on Monday.
Quality face masks, sold at Tk 25 to Tk 90 each a month ago, were being sold at prices ranging from Tk 120 to Tk 450 on Monday.
Rofiqul Amin, a young boy who came to buy surgical masks, told the FE that he was asked to pay Tk 1,200 for a box (50 pieces) of the item that was Tk 250 just a few days back.
The traders were charging arbitrary prices of mask and other protective items, like - hand wash tissue and hand sanitizers, following their huge demand.
He also admitted people's mentality to be panicked without knowing about the issue in details.
The FE correspondent visited a number of pharmacies and medicine shops in the city, where many salesmen said they do not have stock of these items, as their supply is now low due to high demand.
A salesman in the city's Gulshan area told the FE that people rushed to city pharmacies and shops on Sunday night, and bought those items by standing on queues, which ultimately impacted the market.
He added that some people bought the items as many as they could. As a result, other people later returned home empty handed.
People alleged that due to lack of proper monitoring from the authorities concerned, some unscrupulous traders are cashing in on their growing demand, as happened during dengue outbreak last year.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) in a meeting with drug makers and sellers on Monday took some decisions to help check the price hike of hand sanitisers.
The decisions include taking legal steps against those, who will sell sanitisers at prices beyond their permissible rate.
The meeting also asked all concerned not to sell more than 500 pieces of hand sanitisers to a single distributer, and not more than one piece to an individual to avert any artificial crisis of the item in the wake of its growing demand.
The meeting was told that currently seven companies, having permission from the DGDA, are producing hand sanitisers, and their prices will be published in national newspapers.
Principal Scientific Officer of the Department of Medical Entomology, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Dr A S M Alamgir earlier told the FE that there is no need to be panicked (about Coronavirus outbreak in the country).
He, however, urged people to take preventive measures and wear masks properly, so that they can remain safe from airborne and other contagious diseases.
He also suggested all to avoid public gatherings, and follow suggestions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in this regard.
nsrafsanju@gmail.com
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