The director general (DG) of Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection (DNCRP) on Monday said the organisation will intensify its market vigilance from February 21 to ensure that consumers get essentials at rational prices along with benefits of the tax, VAT cuts as Ramadan approaches.
Manpower of the taskforces in the district level will also be doubled to monitor the market for a month, he also said.
He made the announcement at a media fellowship award ceremony, held at the DNCRP Auditorium in the capital, organised jointly by Bangladesh Skin Care and Beauty Product Manufacturers and Exporters' Association and DNCRP.
Answering a question, DNCRP DG Mohammed Alim Akhter Khan said the government reduced VAT and taxes on key essentials notably to help consumers get products at rational rates.
He said the Ministry of Commerce has formed a taskforce, involving entities from agriculture, fisheries and food ministries, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and other stakeholders, to conduct effective monitoring over the market.
According to the DNCRP, the government had established the special task force at district level to monitor and review the market and supply situation of essential commodities in November following a tectonic rise in most of the essentials. An additional district commissioner of each district was appointed as its respective head.
The DNCRP task force conducts regular spot visits to various markets, large warehouses, storages, cold storage facilities and other key points to monitor the pricing of essential commodities.
It works to minimise price differences between production, wholesale, and consumer levels, holding consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders.
After conducting daily monitoring, the task force also send reports to the commodity price review and forecast cell of the commerce ministry and the central control room of the DNCRP.
It also instructs the DNCRP to compile and review reports from various districts on a daily basis and send a consolidated report to the ministry by 7pm every day.
Members of the task force include additional superintendent of police, district food controller, district livestock officer, district fisheries officer, agricultural marketing officer or senior agricultural marketing officer, a representative from the CAB and other stakeholders.
Assistant director of the DNCRP acts as member secretary of the task force, which also could co-opt additional members if necessary.
Meanwhile, prices of onion, potato, chicken, eggs, cultured fish and vegetables have reduced to a ration level in the country in last two weeks, according to kitchen market sources.
But rice, edible oil including soybean and palm oil, few pulses include lentil and chickpea, riverine fish have been showing a soaring trend for last few months.
Beef and mutton prices, are, however marinating a static trend for last two months.
CAB Vice President S M Nazer Hossain, said the challenge for the DNCRP and the taskforce will be to bring a check and balance in the rice and edible oil market.
The demand for chicken, beef and mutton will also be increased within a two weeks; prices should be monitored strictly to give consumers a relief before and during the Ramadan, he added.
tonmoy.wardad@gmaill.com