Ctg traders rule out price hike in Ramadan

CHITTAGONG, June 15: Traders in a meeting ahead of the upcoming month of Ramadan said the consumers would not see any price hike during the month, as there were sufficient stocks of essential items in the wholesale market.
Importers and traders said 42,000 tonnes of chickpeas, 45,000 tonnes of sugar, 11,000 tonnes of edible oil and 12,000 tonnes of peas were imported by them in Chittagong in just 10 days. Besides, there was a good stock of such commodities in the port-city's wholesale markets.
The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) organized the pre-Ramadan meeting at the Circuit House Wednesday. Senior officials of district administration and police as well as representatives of the market association, shop owners' association, transport owners' association, consumers' association, importers and food producers were present in the meeting.
Chaired by CCCI president Mahbubul Alam, the meeting was addressed, among others, by CCCI director Sirajul Islam, director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Khatungonj Trade Association secretary Syed Sagir Ahmed, BKMEA director Shawkat Osman, directors of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nurul Amin and Abul Bashar Chowdhury, Tariq Ahmed of TK Group, Kazi Mahmud Imam Bulu of C&F Agents Association, and Iqbal Bahar Sabery of Consumers Association Bangladesh (CAB).
It was also attended by Shamima Harun Lubna, Khaleda Akhtar Chowdhury and Abida Azad of Chittagong Women's Chamber, Md Sagir of Biponi Bitan Merchants Committee, Mahbub Rana of Frozen Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association, Osman Gani Chowdhury of Terribazar Traders Association, Abdur Razzak of Kazir Dewri Kitchen Market, Salamat Ali of Dokan Malik Samity Federation and Farid Uddin of Rice Mill Owners Association.
CCCI vice president Syed Jamal Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Chittagong Mesbah Uddin, additional police commissioner Banoj Kumar Majumder, and CCCI directors Mahfuzul Hoque Shah, M A Motaleb, Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury and Ohid Siraj Chowdhury were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, CCCI president Mahbubul Alam emphasised reducing the price gap of essentials between the wholesale and retail levels. He suggested formation of a monitoring cell, comprising representatives from CCCI, CMCCI, district administration, government agencies concerned and traders' associations to assess the overall price situation and take necessary action.
He said traffic jams had been a major problem in the city, as Chittagong City Corporation, Chittagong Development Authority, WASA, Power Development Board, T&T and gas distribution agencies were cutting roads in an unplanned way.
The DC of Chittagong said the number of dishonest traders was limited. Market control would not be that tough, if the traders remained watchful and active.
He urged the businesses, wholesale and retail traders to display price lists of essential commodities, which was made mandatory for all. A mobile team comprising five magistrates would be deployed and there would be telephone hotlines available all the time at the district administration.