Stock data and traders’ assurance prompt the commerce ministry to announce that there will be no crisis of essentials during Ramadan as the supply and import of those remained normal in the market ahead of Ramadan.
It said the businesspeople and others concerned will have to remain careful so that the prices of essentials do not go up abruptly and the government sought cooperation from the businesspeople to keep the Ramadan market stable.
The ministry assured citizens that prices of essentials would not increase during the upcoming Ramadan month as the government has sufficient stocks of commodities.
On Sunday, the commerce ministry held a meeting with businessmen and importers of essentials on Sunday evening.
In the meeting, the traders agreed to sell sugar and edible oil at the prices that have been already fixed.
Talking to reporters Sunday, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed said: “There is no need to panic about the price hike of essentials. Nobody should believe in rumours. The main reason for the price hikes of essentials is because people shop for the whole month in a single day, believing rumours.”
“The government will hang charts listing rates of commodities in every market. The chart that will be setup at markets within a couple days will carry the price of edible oil, sugar and other essentials,” Mahbub told reporters after holding a meeting with the leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI).
FBCCI President Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed said the price of commodities would not rise this year as it had in previous years. Rather, prices may decrease in this year. The government and business leaders are working together to control prices of essentials during Ramadan.
Business leaders, high officials of the commerce ministry and relevant agencies also joined the meeting held in the capital.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, Vice President M Helal Uddin, additional commerce secretary ATM Mortoza Reza Chowdhury, WTO DG Amitav Chakrabarty, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) chairman Brig Gen Sarwar Jahan Talukdar, City Group chairman Fazlur Rahman, representatives of TK Group, S Alam, Bangladesh Edible Oil Ltd, Meghna Group, SA Oil Refinery Ltd and others were present at the Sunday’s meeting.
As per the decision, sugar will be sold at Tk 41.50 per kg at the mill gate while at Tk 42.50 per kg at wholesale level and Tk 45.50 per kg at the retail level.
On other hand, palm oil will be sold at Tk 69 per liter at mill gate, Tk 70 at wholesale level and Tk 73-Tk 75 at retail level.
Soybean oil (loose) will be sold at Tk 101 at mill gate, Tk 102 at wholesale level and Tk 105 at retail level. However, soybean oil (packed) will be sold at Tk 127 per litre, which is now Tk 132 per litre.
The FBCCI will help ensure hanging of price list of essentials in each market in the capital and the sale of essentials at the fixed prices. At the same time, the government will also strongly monitor the market.
