Prices of essentials increasing ahead of Ramadan

At the moment, beef is being sold at around Tk 530 to 550 per kilogram. It was being sold at Tk 480 per kilogram less than a month back.
As Ramadan is coming closer, prices of vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and other essentials are increasing. Especially the prices of items that are required to make iftar dishes are on the rise in the kitchen markets of the capital.
This is a common scenario that occurs before every Ramadan in our country. Some unscrupulous traders take the opportunity of weak market monitoring and charge high prices from customers.
It's unnatural that there is always a surge in prices of everyday commodities only in Bangladesh prior to Ramadan. In middle-eastern and south-east Asian countries, prices of essential items are usually reduced ahead of Ramadan by traders. But in our country, the situation is the opposite.
I hope the traders will show some restraint this year and the government will take steps to contain the price hike.

Mohammad Sohel Hara
Banasree, Dhaka
[email protected]