The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh has undertaken several steps in advance to intervene effectively in the market to check price hike
of essentials during
the holy month of Ramadan.
A top official of the state trading organisation said selling of pulses, edible oil, sugar, gram and
date would start from July 15, much ahead of the month.
'We've a plan to supply adequate quantity of essentials in two phases —- 15 days ahead of the Ramadan in the first phase and then in the first week of the holy month,' Brigadier General Sarwar Jahan Talukder, Chairman of TCB, told the news agency.
Talukder said some steps have already been taken to import essentials much ahead of the Ramadan and most of the items would reach
country by the first week of July.
For the first time, he said, the corporation decided to sell dates during the month.
The TCB decided to import or locally buy 30,000 tonnes of sugar, 30,000 tonnes of soybean oil, 1,000 tonnes of grams, and 500 tonnes of dates, officials said.
Selling of essentials by the TCB is a process continuing round the year but special emphasis has been given to keep the prices of essentials within the purchasing capacity of the common people, said chairman.
The number of dealers of the corporation has been increased to 2,400 this year from 1,600 last year because of increased demand for essential commodities.
Each dealer would be given two tons of sugar, one ton pulse and one-and-a-half ton cooking oil for selling at fair prices.
The monthly demand for edible oil is one lakh tons but the demand soars to 1.5 lakh tons during the month of Ramadan. The demand for other essentials such as pulses,
onion and sugar also goes up in the month of Ramadan.
When contacted, commerce minister Faruk Khan said the government has taken diverse steps to check price spiral during the holy month of Ramadan.
'We came to know that prices of essentials have soared in the international market setting impact on the local market. Nonetheless, the government has been trying hard to keep the prices of essentials under control in local market. I hope we would be able to do so,' Khan hoped.
Abul Hossain Mia, Director General of National Consumers Rights Protection Directorate, said, 'We have intensified our drives to monitor market as more offices have recently been opened in three divisions—Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshah.'
President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry AK Azad said the apex body's market monitoring cell together with the Ministry of Commerce will work for intervention in the market during the month of Ramadan.
Source : New Age
