The government has taken necessary initiatives to reduce the high prices of key essential commodities, especially egg and poultry, at the producer and consumer levels.
Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said this while talking to reporters after a meeting held with leaders of poultry sector at the commerce ministry on Sunday.
At present, the production of poultry items is being hampered in the country. However, poultry traders have assured that the production will return to normal, he said.
Initiatives have been taken to reduce the prices of these items at the producer and consumer levels, he added.
"We're talking with almost all businessmen. Meanwhile, we have discussed how to reduce the prices of essential consumer goods, especially eggs, chickens and their chicks," Mr Ahmed mentioned.
"We've discussed this with businessmen. They said that there are some problems in the poultry production stage. Then big producers would increase production now."
The commerce adviser warns that abnormal profits cannot be made outside the cost of production. There will not be a huge price gap between producers and consumers. To address the gap, the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection will look into this matter.
Replying to a query about the syndicate, the adviser said it has become the nature of businessmen to try making a little extra profit. They are like eel fish, hard to catch slipping away. From now on, it will be possible to catch them.
Responding to another query, he said the prices of eggs and poultry are likely to be fixed if needed. The Directorate of Agriculture Marketing will work on the issue.
"We've told traders that now fuel oil prices have been reduced, so transportation costs will decrease. The prices of goods should come down. Once prices of different items go up but don't go down."
About the market situation after the takeover of the new government, the adviser said, "The current commodity prices cannot be said to be too bad. We are in a fairly satisfactory condition. We are trying to make it more pleasant."
Commerce secretary Md Selim Uddin, senior officials of the ministry and poultry sector leaders were present at the meeting.
The commerce ministry asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to withdraw duties on the import of potato, eggs and onion with an eye to keeping the market stable, a senior official said on Sunday.
He mentioned that the commerce adviser has recently asked its senior officials to write to the NBR. On the adviser's instruction, the ministry sent a letter to take action as key consumer goods' production was disrupted due to the floods.
The prices of some commodities, including egg, onion and potato, were high, causing concerns for consumers. In this situation, the government wants to bring their prices at an affordable level.
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