The onion traders in Khatunganj wholesale market in Chittagong on Tuesday resumed their operations after keeping their shutters closed for a day following the mobile court drives.
Previously on Monday, onion wholesalers of the commodity hub ceased conducting business after two executive magistrates of Chittagong district administration fined 10 wholesalers with Tk77,000 for manipulating onion prices.
Md Zafar Uddin, manager of Mohammadia Banijjalay of Khatunganj, told the Dhaka Tribune that they resumed the trade of onion, garlic and ginger from Tuesday morning.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Ali Hossain Khokon, proprietor of SN Traders, said that they resumed trade in full swing through the arbitration of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC) President Mahbubul Alam.
“There is no point in conducting drives at Khatunganj market since the commission agents have no role in price hike. The profit margin of the commission agents remains the same even if the prices skyrocket. Action should be taken against the importers based in the land ports,” the wholesaler added.
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General Secretary of Khatunganj Hamid Ullah Market Traders' Welfare Association, Mohammad Idris, also claimed that the wholesalers had no hand in hiking the prices.
“Action should be taken against the importers of the land ports of the country who are largely responsible for the price hike. The importers do not provide the wholesalers with any valid document. That’s why the wholesalers of Khatunganj markets, who are actually commission agents, cannot show any valid documents to the mobile courts,” Edris added.
According to Khatunganj market wholesalers, Indian onions sold for Tk38 to Tk40 per kg on Tuesday.
There are some 70 onion wholesalers at Khatunganj market.
CAB for keeping check on essential items traders
After issuing a media release on Tuesday, the Chittagong chapter of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said that a section of unscrupulous traders of daily essentials was holding the people hostage through making the market unstable.
“Last year, the same dishonest traders made the onion market unstable and made some quick bucks. They threaten to go for tougher programs following the mobile court drives. Under such circumstances, the paperless trade of essential items should be stopped and intensify the market monitoring,” said the CAB leaders.
