Protecting consumer interest

ACTING as a syndicate, the poultry farm owners are controlling supply for extra profit. Their demand for the continuation of the ban on import of poultry birds and egg seeks to keep the prices sky high at the expense of consumers. They charge high price for eggs and birds exploiting the supply shortage. When the prices of corn, wheat, rice and soybean and other ingredients of poultry feed have come down to a reasonable level from the one that prevailed last year, there can be no justification for the egg and chicken prices to remain so high. Consumers in India buy a live poultry bird for Indian Rs 60(equivalent Bangladesh Tk.85.00) per kg and an egg for Indian Rs.2.50 (equivalent Bangladesh Tk3.57) from a retailer. But in Bangladesh consumers have to pay Tk.120 per kg of live bird. The poultry farmers refused to reduce price as asked by the government. A consumer had to pay Tk.8 for an egg until recently. After two trucks of imported eggs arrived, the price came down to Tk.6.50 in a week. Import would further bring down the egg price, it is expected. The syndicate of one-day chicken producers charge Tk.50 to Tk.55 per chicken, which should not be more than Tk.20.
For their high prices, the common consumers cannot afford eggs and chicken. They are getting animal protein in their daily meals. This elected government has the responsibility to keep the prices within the reach of the common consumers. The government should understand whose interest is of greater importance -- millions of citizens or a few thousand poultry farm owners.
Md. Ashraf Hossain
E-mail: mah120cb@yahoo.com