The authorities concerned are scheduled to hold a meeting with the city's kitchen market representatives on Sunday next to set strategy for keeping the prices of essentials stable during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Top leaders of all markets under the two city corporations would attend the meeting at the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), with its Director General A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman in the chair.
Senior secretary of commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh is expected to attend the meeting as the chief guest.
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) convened the meeting against the backdrop of soaring prices of essentials across the board, sources said.
More or less 50 representatives including presidents and general secretaries from different kitchen markets as well as importers, retailers, wholesalers, government officials, and leaders of different trade bodies are expected to present at the crucial meeting.
"We'll discuss strategies to control price hike of the key essential items," a high official at the MoC told the FE,
Market observers alleged that the prices of the essential items went up abnormally due to failure in properly monitoring the market, causing immense sufferings to the commoners for the last several months.
"We have taken initiatives throughout the last year to stabilise the prices," a senior official said, however. He added that the proposed meeting next week would analyse the prices and supply situation of the commodities.
The market conditions will have to be brought under control in the interest of the common people, he said.