Price hikes before Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan is still a month away. Already the prices of many daily essential items like spices, sugar and salt, along with meat, are increasing. Beef, which was Tk 480 per kilogram just two weeks earlier, is now being sold at Tk 550 per kilogram.
The commerce ministry has assured that this year the common people will not suffer a price hike during Ramadan. I hope that this year the government steps are effective enough to rein in the price hike.
The law-enforcement agencies should identify the traders who are behind this artificial price hike and take legal steps against them. Additionally, extortion on the road should be stopped as it is one of the main reasons behind the price hike.
I think if the government machinery is alert, they can play an important role at stabilising the kitchen market and ward off the manipulation of prices by unscrupulous traders.
Mohammed Sohel Hara
Banasree, Dhaka
[email protected]