Order to sell soybean oil at govt-fixed rate flouted
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
FE Report
Even after ordering revised price of soybean oil at retail level from Tuesday, unscrupulous retailers in the city's kitchen markets were still selling soybean oil beyond the revised prices earlier fixed by the government and the mill owners and refiners, according to a market survey.
To enforce the government decision on soybean oil prices, the designated market monitoring team fined four traders at Shantinagar Bazar on Tuesday in the city for violating the government's directives on edible oil prices, ministry sources concerned said.
They have realised Tk 0.13 million from the traders for their alleged involvement in selling loose soybean oil beyond the government fixed prices, ministry sources said.
Although the government has strictly ordered the retailers to sell loose soybean oil on litre basis rather than in kilograms, in most cases they were seen violating the government decision.
They said that customers prefer to buy loose soybean oil on kilogram (kg) basis rather than in litres. They, however, said they would follow the litre-based system in a short time.
Md Abu Taleb, Deputy Secretary, Department of Consumer Rights Protection, led the monitoring team. Besides, members of RAB, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and representatives of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) were also with the team.
"The drive by the market monitoring team will continue throughout the country," a high official at the commerce ministry told The FE.
Even after ordering revised price of soybean oil at retail level from Tuesday, unscrupulous retailers in the city's kitchen markets were still selling soybean oil beyond the revised prices earlier fixed by the government and the mill owners and refiners, according to a market survey.
To enforce the government decision on soybean oil prices, the designated market monitoring team fined four traders at Shantinagar Bazar on Tuesday in the city for violating the government's directives on edible oil prices, ministry sources concerned said.
They have realised Tk 0.13 million from the traders for their alleged involvement in selling loose soybean oil beyond the government fixed prices, ministry sources said.
Although the government has strictly ordered the retailers to sell loose soybean oil on litre basis rather than in kilograms, in most cases they were seen violating the government decision.
They said that customers prefer to buy loose soybean oil on kilogram (kg) basis rather than in litres. They, however, said they would follow the litre-based system in a short time.
Md Abu Taleb, Deputy Secretary, Department of Consumer Rights Protection, led the monitoring team. Besides, members of RAB, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and representatives of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) were also with the team.
"The drive by the market monitoring team will continue throughout the country," a high official at the commerce ministry told The FE.