Secretary of Commerce Ministry Mofizul Islam urged the traders of the premier port city to keep prices of essentials stable during the month of Ramadan.
He made the urge during a view-exchange meeting with the traders held at the auditorium of Chittagong Deputy Commissioner on Thursday.
"There is no reason for price hike during the month of Ramadan as the stock of essential commodities is adequate. Traders will make a profit but stockpiling is tantamount to offense," said the Secretary.
"I have come to you with a request of attaining customer satisfaction by keeping prices stable during Ramadan. There is ample to import, it is deemed necessary to you," said Mofizul.
"This time the government has taken a firm stand. We are well aware of the stock of commodities. We can say with confidence that the incumbent government is business-friendly. The traders must sell commodities free from adulteration at a reasonable price, as the government has adopted a zero tolerance policy in this respect," added the Secretary.
The meeting also decided to monitor over the commodity market every day and conduct mobile courts in the city.
With Kamal Hossain, Chittagong additional deputy commissioner, in the chair, the meeting was Mahbubul Alam, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of Consumers' Association of Bangladesh (CAB), ABUl Bashar, chairman of BSM Group and Syed Sagir Ahmed, secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, among others.
"Prices of chickpea and red lentil are now stable. The prices skyrocket at the end of the month," said Mahbubul Alam, president of CCCI.
"Items like butter and vermicelli are adulterated most. The traders conveniently forget about their promise to keep prices of food items stable. That's why the administration should have a strict monitoring over the commodity market," said SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of CAB.
"The consumers should purchase commodities for a week. There is no necessity to buy in bulk during the month of Ramadan," said Syed Sagir Ahmed, secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association.
