Ending Ramadan price hike

Ramadan is said to be a month of blessings. Unfortunately though, it looks like some syndicates of traders have taken this month as an opportunity to double their profits. They are charging exorbitant prices for essential items such as fruits and vegetables. Many of the businessmen, however, are blaming extortion in transportation for the current trend of price spiral. Whatever the reason, due to the price hike, it has become extremely difficult to buy daily necessities.
Every Ramadan, we see the same picture. The price of daily essentials goes up ahead of this month, and it continues till the end. All over the world, the prices of commodities fall during religious occasions or festivals. There are numerous offers and discounts in Europe, America and Middle East around the festival times. Many people wait for this time of the year to buy daily essentials. Such offers are familiar worldwide. The only exception seems to be Bangladesh. Prices go up here before any festival. Amid all this, it is the poor people who are the worst sufferers. We urge the authorities concerned to take some early steps so that the trend of price hike in the month of Ramadan comes to an end from next year.
Abu Elias Linkon,
Banasree, Dhaka,
lightening_sparkle@yahoo.com