Ensure stable supply chain for essential commodities

Wholesalers and retailers on Thursday called upon producers to maintain a stable supply chain for eggs, broiler chicken, onions, potatoes, garlic, and other essential commodities in order to help reduce prices.
They said it was possible to keep the prices of essential commodities within the purchasing capacity of the consumers if the supply to the markets is sufficient.
They made the observations at a meeting organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at its Motijheel office in the capital.
The meeting discussed prices, supply, demand and stock situation of basic commodities in the markets.
Md Hafizur Rahman, administrator of the FBCCI, who presided over the meeting, urged the traders to keep the prices of basic commodities within consumers' reach and to refrain from making excessive profits.
"Businessmen should not make excessive profit. The profit should be rational," he said.
He urged traders to reduce the number of procedures involved in supplying products to the markets.
Mentioning that the prices of some essential commodities increased due to recent floods, he said that the soaring prices have resulted in discomfort among consumers.
Abdul Jabbar Mandal, assistant director of the Department of National Consumer Rights Protection, said that the prices of some essential commodities started coming down following steps taken by the interim government.
The prices of eggs and green chilies declined on Wednesday owing to increased supplies. Egg prices dropped by Tk 15-20, with a dozen retailing at Tk 160-170 in Dhaka.
Dr Umme Binte Salam, director of Bangladesh Competition Commission, Syed Mizanur Rahman, organising secretary of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Md Majed, vice-president of Shyambazar Agriculture Products Traders Association, and Md Saifur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of Karwan Bazar Wholesale Vegetables Traders association, were present, among others.

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