150pc hike in toiletries\\\' prices in 5 years

The prices of almost all types of toiletries, specially detergent powder have increased many folds in the last five years, affecting the common people gravely, trading sources said.
According to traders, prices of detergent powder almost tripled and other toiletries like body soap, laundry bar, liquid soap, toilet cleaner and tooth paste have increased by 80 per cent to 150 per cent during the period.
After a visit to the market the FE reporter found that a kilogram of detergent powder was being sold at Tk 70 to Tk 100 depending on its brand, types and quality, which according to the traders, was around Tk 28 to Tk 30 five years back (in the year 2009).   
FE correspondent also found that a 100 gram body soap was being sold at around Tk 38 against Tk 20 in 2009, 200 gram of laundry bar at Tk 32 against Tk 12, 250 ML liquid toilet cleaner (tetra pack) Tk 35 against Tk 17 and a 145 gram of toothpaste Tk 90 against Tk 50 depending on their brand and quality.
However, industry people attributed such a price hike of their produces to higher prices of raw materials in the international market and inflationary effect.
"Raw materials of toiletries increased by more than one hundred per cent in the international market, so we have to increase prices of our goods accordingly," head of marketing at Square Toiletries Ltd, Malik Sayeed, told the FE.
He also said in many cases his company does not increase prices of some of its goods like soap (both body soap and laundry bar) according to the price hike of raw materials in the international market as users of these items mostly belong to middle or lower income group.
Vice president (sales and marketing) of Kohinoor Chemical Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Zafar Ahmed said year on year inflation has badly affected the toiletries' makers which forced them to increase prices of their goods.
"Price hike is mainly because of inflationary effect. We had to cope with the inflation," he added.
Meanwhile, refuting the manufacturers' argument, consumers and their association leaders said syndication by the manufacturers is behind the abnormal price hike of the products.
"Only four to five leading companies are controlling toiletries business of the country. So we cannot expect normal business practice from them. Otherwise, such an abnormal price hike could not happen," Nasima Akhter, a customer of toiletries in Santinagar area said.
She said people across the globe require toiletries almost every step of their life, so abnormal price hike of such items directly hit the common people.
She, however, urged the authorities concerned to check whether the price hike took place according to the increased prices of raw materials in the international market.
President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Kazi Farooq Ahmed said no toiletries makers would be able to prove 100 per cent price hike of their raw materials in the market.
"I can challenge the company officials who claim abnormal increase of raw materials in the market as reason of such a big price hike of toiletries in the domestic market," he added.
"Besides, year on year inflation in the last five years on an average was also not more than five to seven per cent. So two to three hundred per cent price hike can never be acceptable," the CAB president said.