Spl taskforce formed to curb price hike

The interim government has formed a taskforce for every district to inspect and review market and supply chain of essential commodities in a bid to curb the abnormal price hike.

The 10-member district taskforce comprises additional deputy commissioner, additional superintendent of police, representatives of district food controller, district fisheries officer, district livestock officer, district agriculture marketing officer and the Consumer Association of Bangladesh, two students and assistant director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.

To this effect, a circular was issued by the commerce ministry on Monday, defining the term of reference of the taskforce.

The taskforce will inspect local markets, commodity storage facilities and other spots of supply chain to keep the commodity prices at a rational level.

They will also ensure that the price differences among production, wholesale and retail level will be kept at a rational level.

They will hold consultations with local stakeholders to raise awareness about this. The taskforce will send daily reports of the market situation to the commerce ministry, the circular said.

On Saturday, Mahfuz Alam, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, told the media that the government had taken the issue of essential commodities' price hike very seriously.

Work has started to dismantlethe market syndicate and extortion, he said, adding: "We hopefully will have a good result very soon."

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com