Abnormal price hikes making life difficult: CAB

Speakers at a protest rally on Sunday expressed grave concern over the proliferation of adulterated products and the abnormal price hikes of essential commodities, stating that these factors have made life unbearable for the common people, reports UNB.
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organized the rally and a protest meeting in front of the National Press Club to mark World Consumer Rights Day.
Addressing the gathering, CAB President and former Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman lamented that while the day is observed globally, it is unfortunate that it is not being observed nationally by the government in Bangladesh.
He alleged that market syndicates are irrationally increasing the prices of daily necessities.
"The government must immediately break these syndicates to bring relief back to the market," he urged.
Echoing these sentiments, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Convener of the Bangladesh Sadharan Nagarik Samaj, claimed that some dishonest businessmen are controlling the market through syndicates by using political affiliations as a shield.
He noted that if the government political party curtails such opportunities, the syndicates would largely collapse.
Ruheen Hossain Prince, former General Secretary of CPB, emphasized the need to ensure safe and affordable production starting from the manufacturing stage.
He also called for strict surveillance against toxic and adulterated food and stressed the importance of guaranteed safe drinking water.
Other speakers, including CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan and Organizing Secretary Prof. Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman Raju, pointed out that a lack of business ethics during Ramadan and Eid often leads to market instability.