ACI, four other cos quizzed

Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) has grilled five companies and individuals in eight cases for their alleged involvement in price manipulation of essentials like rice, flour, egg and chicken, and toiletries since February this year, said the commission sources.
The companies and individuals included ACI Ltd, Abdul Hannan of Jahura Auto Rice Mill Ltd, Alal Ahmed of Alal Poultry and Fish Feed Ltd, director of Saguna Food and Feeds Bangladesh Ltd, Managing Director or CEO of Alal Agro and Food Products Ltd, and proprietor of Peoples Feed Ltd.
The hearing was attended by the lawyers and representatives of the respective companies and organisations.
The ACI was quizzed in three different cases on the day. It was asked about price manipulation of coarse and finer flour (atta and maida), staple rice and toiletries.
The company markets rice and flour under its brand name 'Pure'.
The company's next hearing is scheduled to be held on November 2 next when it will have to submit required papers asked by the commission, said the BCC sources.
Other companies were also asked to submit their papers in their respective next hearing dates.
The BCC has so far filed 44 cases against 36 companies and individuals for their alleged involvement in price manipulation of rice, flour, egg, chicken, toiletries including soap, detergent powder etc.
Most of the country's leading commodity trading companies, millers, poultry farms, toiletries manufacturers are among the 36 entities.
Hearing on these cases has started from September 26.
Adani Wilmar's BEOL, Unilever Bangladesh, Bashundhara, Square, City Group, Brac, Pran, Meghna, Akij, TK, S Alam and others have been sued by the BCC so far. In the poultry sector, the BCC has also filed cases against CP Bangladesh, Kazi Farms, Paragon, Nourish and others.

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