The country's apex trade body FBCCI has urged the traders to remain active with an eye to stabilising prices in the commodity market.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Mahbubul Alam made the call during a meeting with traders at Moulvibazar in Dhaka city on Saturday.
"We're moving towards trillion-dollar trade. Our market is big, although ours is a small country. We're doing trade with our neighbouring countries. Businessmen should be united and move the country forward."
According to Mr Alam, the going rates of onion, potato and other essential items are now at a tolerable level.
He sought customs department's cooperation in reducing duties on essential commodities until Eid-ul-Azha.
Md Amin Helaly, senior vice-president of FBCCI and also convener of the apex trade body's market monitoring committee, said the private sector was playing a vital role in developing the economy.
He called upon the traders to do business with honesty.
FBCCI vice-president Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury (Roni) said most of small traders could not understand business rules.
Bikash Chandra Das, deputy director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said their aim was not to harass the traders.
He called upon the traders to preserve all papers related to their trade.
Moulvibazar Traders Association president Md Bashir Uddin chaired the event, which was also attended by FBCCI directors.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com