The government has intensified market monitoring to keep prices of essential commodities stable during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, officials said.
The commerce ministry has recently deployed two more market monitoring teams for the month of fasting, in addition to two teams that have been monitoring the markets in the city, they said.
A total of 14 teams have already been formed, each consisting of eleven members drawn from different ministries, government agencies and business associations, according to the commerce ministry.
The teams comprise representatives from commerce, agriculture, home, industries and food ministries, the Bangladesh Tariff Commission, Dhaka City Corporation, the district administration of Dhaka, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
The teams started conducting drives in the city markets on April 28. The drives will continue up to June 03 next.
A high official of the commerce ministry said the government intends to closely monitor the price situation with a view to keeping the prices of essentials within the buying capacity of common people during Ramadan and throughout the year as well.
The teams will also collect price data and gather information about stock and supply of essentials during their drives, he said.
If any kind of abnormal situation arises in the market, the teams will take action and punish traders or the businesspeople concerned through on-the-spot mobile courts, he added.
The teams also take stringent action against price manipulators as per existing law to check price hike, he said.
The commerce ministry will also set up a control room soon in the ministry to redress grievances against price hike, hoarding of essentials and the syndicates.
On Friday last, secretary of the commerce ministry Md Mofizul Islam said there would be no price hike of essential items during Ramadan since the government has already taken necessary measures to rein in prices like previous years.
"The drives by the market monitoring teams have been strengthened further. We have asked the teams to be more sincere about their duties throughout the year, especially during Ramadan," he added.
"We have a sufficient stock of essential items to meet the demand during the fasting month of Ramadan," he mentioned.
The TCB, a state-owned agency, has commenced selling essential commodities at subsidised rates on April 23, 2019 in different parts of the country ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) will sit with the traders today (Tuesday) to discuss ways to check price hike of essential commodities during Ramadan.
At the meeting, the trade body will request the businessmen and traders not to artificially raise the prices of essentials considering the interests of the consumers, DCCI director Mohammad Bashiruddin told the FE.
Secretary of the commerce ministry Md Mofizul Islam is expected to attend the event as the chief guest.
Representatives of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association, Moulvibazar Baybosayee Samity, Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Traders Association, Bangladesh Dal Baybosayee Samity, Bangladesh Rice Merchant Association, Bangladesh Sugar Traders Association and Dhaka Metropolitan Fruits Traders Association are expected to attend the meeting today.
