Govt-fixed prices of essential items go unheeded

No let-up in price spiral in kitchen markets

NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL | Published: March 23, 2024 22:25:03

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 23: The prices of some key essential commodities have increased since the first week of Ramadan in the port city and elsewhere in the country despite the government's measures to rein in price hikes.
Although the government has taken various measures, including fixing of prices of key essentials, fair price outlets by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry and market monitoring, the authorities concerned cannot bring down prices in the kitchen markets, sources say.
Traders are ignoring the pricing of key essential commodities, so poor and middle-income people are suffering a lot in the month of Ramadan.
The sources also said the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) fixed the prices to regulate the kitchen market. But, there is no impact on the market even after the pricing.
Due to the increase in the prices of the essentials, consumers have become frustrated.
During Ramadan, the DAM has cleared the liability by fixing the price shown by the people.
Talking with The Financial Express, some retail traders at Reajuddin Bazar and Kajirdewri Bazar, said even though the government has fixed the price, it is unable to buy vegetables at the rates from the wholesale markets.
According to the DAM notice issued on March 15, it is said to sell potato at Tk 28, green chilies at Tk 60, cabbage at Tk 28, cauliflower at Tk 29, brinjal at Tk 49.75, beans at Tk 48, tomatoes at Tk 40, sweet pumpkin at Tk 23.
The government fixed the retail price of beef is Tk 665, broiler chicken is Tk 175, golden chicken is Tk 262, goat meat is Tk 1003, egg is Tk 10.49, catal fish is Tk 353 per kg and pangas fish is Tk 180.
On the other hand, in the raw markets of the city, potatoes are being sold at Tk 45, brinjal at Tk 50, green pepper at Tk 80, cabbage at Tk 60, sweet pumpkin at Tk 40, beans at Tk 60 and tomato at Tk 50.
Beef is actually selling at Tk 850-950 per kg, goat meat at Tk 1000 to Tk 1050 per kg, broiler chicken at Tk 220 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk 350 a kg and local chicken at Tk 650 per kg.
Mohammad Salahuddin, a vegetable trader at Kazirdewri kitchen market, said the prices of vegetables depended on demand and supply.
"We're retailers who bring and sell vegetables from wholesale markets. We're selling vegetable with minimum profits. Vegetables are perishable products. If the government confirms the fixed price at the wholesale level, we can also sell at the government-fixed price," he said.
President Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chittagong SM Najer Hossain says that the government has fixed the prices of essentials, but traders are not accepting the rates. It does not bring any benefit for consumers.
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