A syndicate of middlemen has allegedly increased the prices essential commodities in Magura prior to the Ramadan in a bid to do brisk business.
Locals said the consortium every year raise the price of daily commodities before Ramadan because of a lax monitoring system implemented by the authority concerned.
This correspondent visited several kitchen markets in the district on Monday and found that rice of the coarse variety is being sold at Tk35 per kg while this quantity of rice was sold at Tk30 three weeks ago, onion being sold at Tk30 per kg against Tk24, potato sold at Tk22 against Tk14, aubergine is being sold at Tk40 per kg against Tk24.
Price of sugar and chickpea has also registered a sharp rise. One kilogram chickpea is being sold in the at Tk55 against Tk45 one month ago while sugar is Tk45 per kg against Tk42 two weeks ago.
Puffed rice is being sold at Tk55 to Tk60 per kg as against Tk45 to Tk50 two weeks ago in local markets.
The rise in price of daily commodities has raised concern among the people of the district. Abu Taher, a trader in Magura town, said, as middlemen were stocking necessities before Ramadan to cash in, as a result price of essentials are increasing.
He said monitoring by the government is not satisfactory to check prices of essentials.
Abdur Rashid, an easy bike driver, said, “In recent time my expenditure has increased by 20%, but my income is still the same.”
He expressed concern that the market condition may deteriorate during Ramadan unless proper monitoring by the government is ensured right now.
Golam Rabbani, a rice whole seller in Notun Bazar area, denied making syndication. He explained that the price of rice had increased as millers could not supply rice to the market because of the recent heavy rainfalls.
Akram Mollah, a vegetable and spice whole seller in Katcha Bazar of Magura, said the government had increased duty on onion import and that is why the price of onion had increased.
The prices of potato and aubergine have risen as transport cost of the crops have increased as a result of waterlogging caused by heavy downpour.
Shimul Mollah, a whole seller, said consumers preferred to stock some goods like chickpea, sugar, pulse and puffed rice before Ramadan out of apprehension that prices of these commodities might increase during the period.
As a result, the demand of these types of commodities is higher than supply.
Mrinal Kanti, a whole seller of puffed rice in Puratan Bazar area, the prices of puffed rice increased because of the hike in the price of paddy in rural areas.
When contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Magura AKM Tareq denied that there is a weakness in monitoring. He said, “We are properly monitoring the market price. Market prices are now more controlled compared to previous years.
He added, if specific allegation of illegal stocking comes against any trader, stern action will be taken in this regard.