It takes 10 years for the National Committee on Essential Commodities to sit for its first meeting, although skyrocketing prices of various kitchen items have long been deepening common consumers' misery.
The committee, headed by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) secretary, was formed back in 2011 under the 'Essential Commodities Marketing and Distributor Appointment Order 2011'.
The body is now sitting for its first meeting today (Wednesday), amid mounting prices of edible oils in the local market.
The prices of essential commodities during the month of holy Ramadan will be discussed in the meeting, to be chaired by Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, adviser of the national committee.
The secretaries of agriculture, food and education ministries, chairmen of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), director general of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), heads of the leading chamber bodies, and officials of intelligence agencies have been invited to attend the meeting.
The consumers largely blame inaction of the state functionaries for frequent price hike of essential commodities in the country.
Edible oils are now selling in the local market at nearly 40 per cent higher prices than those of last year, which, according to the millers, is mainly due to their price hike in the international market.
Among other essential commodities, coarse rice price has increased by 37 per cent over the year, unpacked flour price by 11 per cent, lentil (medium size) by around 10 per cent, sugar by 5.0 per cent, broiler chicken by 26 per cent, and powdered milk by five to 12 per cent.
According to the MoC officials, as the prices of edible oils had started skyrocketing recently, the government asked the BTTC to find out ways to fix these.
In today's meeting, edible oil prices may be fixed to contain their further escalation, taking into consideration the BTTC report, sources said.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan told the FE on Tuesday that there is no outcome of forming such a committee, which does not act properly.
"The consumers are severely affected (for price hike), but no proper steps are visible."
Mr Bhuiyan said the prices of essential commodities are now out of the reach of common people.
"The problem is that the businesses do not follow the government's directives."
Whenever the government fixes the price of a commodity, it goes up in the market on the following day, he added.
Commerce Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin could not be reached for his comment despite several attempts.
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