Prices of some essentials defy govt efforts to cool market
Friday, 14 September 2007
FE Report
Prices of some essential commodities have maintained their upward trend in the local markets even on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan despite the government's allout efforts to keep the market cool.
Market operators said prices of some imported fruits have further increased in the local markets as the traders look to do brisk business just capitalising on the advent of Ramadan.
Prices of the essential commodities maintained the upward trend mainly due to the increase in demand and the panicky buying by the consumers ahead of the Ramadan.
The prices of onion, gram, vegetables, edible oil and fruits rose during the last two days in the local markets due to the higher demand and the panicky buying by the consumers, market sources said.
Consumers started buying onion in bulk amount ahead of the Ramadan to store the item in fear of any price spiral of it during the Ramadan.
The local variety of onion was selling at Tk 40-Tk 42 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 34-Tk 36 per kg while the imported variety was selling at Tk 34-Tk 36 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 30-Tk 32 per kg.
Indian 'multa' was selling at Tk 100-Tk 95 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 55-Tk 60 per kg, Australian apple was selling at Tk 100-Tk 95 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 65-Tk 70 per kg, Australian 'multa' was priced at Tk 85-Tk 80 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 70-Tk 75 per kg, traders said.
Pomegranate was selling at Tk 220 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 160-Tk 165 per kg, grape was selling at Tk 250-Tk 290 per kg compared with its previous rate of Tk 180-Tk 220 per kg and red grape was selling at Tk 300-Tk 310 per kg against Tk 290-Tk 300 per kg.
When asked, a sector commander of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) said they have already started to sell some essential commodities at 100 outlets in the city.
He said besides the BDR outlets the members of the Ansar and private sector businessmen will also operate another 100 outlets in the city to cool the prices of such commodities.
"I hope the prices of the essential commodities will come down further due to efforts of the BDR and other government agencies," he said.
The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has taken initiatives to sell sugar, edible oil and lentil in four divisional cities including Dhaka City at fair prices.
The TCB sources said the sales persons of the TCB will sell those items across the city on trucks. Buyers can buy the TCB items on first-come-first-served basis, the TCB sources said.
The price of sugar has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, lentil (masur dal) at Tk 60 per kg, two-litre pack of soybean oil Tk 152 and five-litre pack Tk 374, a TCB official said.
The TCB has started selling the items from Thursday and the efforts of the TCB will continue until the ensuing Eid-ul-Fitr except Friday, the government holiday.
A TCB statement said sale of the items in the city will start from 9am and will continue until 4pm.
The statement also said the TCB salesmen will sell the items at least at 46 spots in the city. The major spots include Press Club, Secretariat Main Gate, Baily Road Colony, Eskaton Garden Colony, AGB Colony, Mirpur, New Market, Hatir Pool area, Azimpur Colony, Kamalapur Rail Station, Mohakhali Bus Stand, Mohammadpur area and Shanir Akhra.
Prices of some essential commodities have maintained their upward trend in the local markets even on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan despite the government's allout efforts to keep the market cool.
Market operators said prices of some imported fruits have further increased in the local markets as the traders look to do brisk business just capitalising on the advent of Ramadan.
Prices of the essential commodities maintained the upward trend mainly due to the increase in demand and the panicky buying by the consumers ahead of the Ramadan.
The prices of onion, gram, vegetables, edible oil and fruits rose during the last two days in the local markets due to the higher demand and the panicky buying by the consumers, market sources said.
Consumers started buying onion in bulk amount ahead of the Ramadan to store the item in fear of any price spiral of it during the Ramadan.
The local variety of onion was selling at Tk 40-Tk 42 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 34-Tk 36 per kg while the imported variety was selling at Tk 34-Tk 36 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 30-Tk 32 per kg.
Indian 'multa' was selling at Tk 100-Tk 95 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 55-Tk 60 per kg, Australian apple was selling at Tk 100-Tk 95 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 65-Tk 70 per kg, Australian 'multa' was priced at Tk 85-Tk 80 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 70-Tk 75 per kg, traders said.
Pomegranate was selling at Tk 220 per kg compared with its previous rates of Tk 160-Tk 165 per kg, grape was selling at Tk 250-Tk 290 per kg compared with its previous rate of Tk 180-Tk 220 per kg and red grape was selling at Tk 300-Tk 310 per kg against Tk 290-Tk 300 per kg.
When asked, a sector commander of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) said they have already started to sell some essential commodities at 100 outlets in the city.
He said besides the BDR outlets the members of the Ansar and private sector businessmen will also operate another 100 outlets in the city to cool the prices of such commodities.
"I hope the prices of the essential commodities will come down further due to efforts of the BDR and other government agencies," he said.
The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has taken initiatives to sell sugar, edible oil and lentil in four divisional cities including Dhaka City at fair prices.
The TCB sources said the sales persons of the TCB will sell those items across the city on trucks. Buyers can buy the TCB items on first-come-first-served basis, the TCB sources said.
The price of sugar has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, lentil (masur dal) at Tk 60 per kg, two-litre pack of soybean oil Tk 152 and five-litre pack Tk 374, a TCB official said.
The TCB has started selling the items from Thursday and the efforts of the TCB will continue until the ensuing Eid-ul-Fitr except Friday, the government holiday.
A TCB statement said sale of the items in the city will start from 9am and will continue until 4pm.
The statement also said the TCB salesmen will sell the items at least at 46 spots in the city. The major spots include Press Club, Secretariat Main Gate, Baily Road Colony, Eskaton Garden Colony, AGB Colony, Mirpur, New Market, Hatir Pool area, Azimpur Colony, Kamalapur Rail Station, Mohakhali Bus Stand, Mohammadpur area and Shanir Akhra.