FBCCI claims success in reining in market prices

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) claimed Wednesday prices of most daily essentials did not increase over the first 10 days of Ramadan because of its rigorous market monitoring, reports UNB. brThe prices of the daily essentials, except some items, are not skyrocketing. We've to work together to keep the prices of the Ramadan items stable, FBCCI president Annisul Huq told a discussion meeting in the city.brThe FBCCI organised the meeting with the leaders of different wholesale and retail associations at the Federation Bhaban to get feedback on market monitoring by its cell.brThe country's apex business association started monitoring kitchen markets from September 3, which was the first day of Ramadan, to put brakes on unusual price fluctuation. brAccording to the FBCCI statistics, the price of per kg local garlic was Tk 30 (imported garlic Tk23-24) in the wholesale market on September 3 but the figure is reduced to Tk 26 (imported one Tk 16-18), local onion was Tk 24 (imported onion Tk 28-30) but now it ranges Tk 24-26 (imported Tk 25-26), green chili was selling at Tk 70-72 but now Tk 34-40, potato was Tk 14-14.5 but its recent price stands Tk 12-13 and the price of cucumber was Tk 28-30 but now it decreased to Tk 22-24.brAnnisul said the prices of essentials, especially Ramadan items, are much lower compared with the previous year's Ramadan despite absence of law enforcing agencies in action. brI think there is no need to control the prices of essentials by deploying the law enforcing agencies, he added.brThe FBCCI president urged the wholesalers to provide receipts after selling their items to the retailers as the retailers blamed that they were deprived of sales receipts. brThe wholesalers, however, rejected the allegation and retuned it to the retailers, saying that they are not interested in taking receipts.brKamal Uddin Ahmed, an FBCCI director and convener of the FBCCI-formed monitoring taskforce, said the prices of the daily essentials had started to decrease due to the positive impact of the monitoring cell. brSaukat Hossain Kanon, general secretary of Fakirerpool General Traders Association, said It's not possible to control prices of commodities using force.br