Even though the government has fixed prices of daily essentials such as eggs, potatoes, onions, soybean oil and sugar, traders are not adhering to these prices.
On a visit to a kitchen market in Mirpur on Friday, this correspondent observed that traders are selling essential items at the previously hiked prices, with some shops charging even more.
Govt-set prices of essentials
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi at a press conference at the Secretariat on Thursday announced the government’s decision to fix prices of essential products.
As per the government’s decision, the maximum retail price of onions was set at Tk64-65 per kg, potatoes at Tk35-36 per kg, bottled soybean oil at Tk169 per litre, loose soybean at Tk149 per litre and palm oil at Tk124 per litre.
The Ministry of Commerce also fixed the price of one egg at Tk12 at the retail level.
The price of loose sugar was fixed at Tk120 per kg, while the packaged sugar was at Tk135 per kg.
The commerce minister also hinted at possible egg imports if traders do not adhere to the government's set price.
Current overview of kitchen market
At the kitchen market, in Mirpur-1, traders were selling essential products at the previous exorbitant prices.
Potatoes were being sold at Tk50 per kg and local onions at Tk85 per kg.
Although eggs were sold at the government-set price of Tk144 per dozen in some shops, others were selling them at Tk150 per dozen, equating to about Tk12.50 per egg.
The government-fixed prices for retail sales of potatoes and onions were not being followed.
Local onions were priced at Tk85 per kg, crossbred onions at Tk80 per kg, Indian onions at Tk60 per kg, while potatoes were selling for Tk50 per kg.
Moreover, soybean oil was still being sold at its previous price, with bottled soybean oil priced at Tk175 per litre and loose soybean oil at Tk151 per litre.
The price of some essential products was more expensive on Friday compared to last week.
Locally produced ginger was priced at Tk260 per kg, Indonesian ginger was between Tk280-300 per kg, Chinese garlic was at Tk200 per kg and local garlic was at Tk240 per kg.
Compared to last week's prices, local ginger on Friday was up by Tk40, Indonesian ginger by Tk20-40 and local garlic was up by Tk10.
Traders blame wholesalers
Retail vendors cited various reasons for not selling items at the government-set prices, one of the main reasons being high prices at the wholesale level.
Russel, who sells potatoes and onions, said: "I bought potatoes last night. I could not buy them at a reduced price, so how am I supposed to sell them [at low prices]? My purchase cost was Tk42, and after considering my expenses and removing the rotten potatoes, I have to sell them at Tk50."
Another seller, Halim, questioned: "If wholesalers do not reduce their prices, how can we sell for less?"
Egg vendor Abdul Jabbar was selling eggs at Tk150 per dozen. When asked why he was selling at a higher rate, he responded: "Many eggs get broken. Therefore, I have to sell at a higher price."
Another egg seller, Salam, was selling eggs at the government-set price. He said since the government has set the price, there is no way to sell them for more.
Another trader, Sohan, said he has not received a new stock of oil, so he is selling them at the previous price.
However, it is the general people who are bearing the brunt of the whole situation.
Salauddin Ahmed, who came to buy essential items at the kitchen market, commented: “The government sets the price, but we have to buy at a higher rate.”
DNCRP conducts raids, fines some traders
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) on Friday launched a raid at the kitchen market to monitor whether essential goods were being sold at the government-set prices.
DNCRP Assistant Director Abdul Jabbar Mondol fined two wholesale onion traders Tk5,000 and an egg vendor Tk2,000 for not putting up price lists and selling their goods at a higher price.
Abdul Jabbar said the raid was launched on the directives of the commerce minister and under close supervision of the director general of the DNCRP.
“We conducted the raid to ensure that the prices set by the government for eggs, soybean oil, potatoes and onions are adhered to,” he added.
"Since the prices were fixed on Thursday, many traders are not yet sincere about it; they are still using the old price list.”
“We found irregularities at three establishments. One of the egg vendors was found selling eggs at a higher price, and we have taken legal action against them. However, the other establishments are selling at the set prices," he said.
"In the case of onions, two traders did not adhere to the government-set prices, resulting in legal actions against them. The remaining vendors adjusted their price lists in our presence. We believe there is a delay since Friday is the first day after the government set prices. We hope by this evening or Saturday, the situation will change," he added.