All commercial wings abroad have been instructed to be alert to the supply chain of their respective countries and update the government, officials said.
This precaution is taken as Bangladesh may face any odd situation in supplying consumables to the market during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in view of the global supply chain.
The commerce ministry has recently asked its 21 commercial wings to be alert and send reports on supply situation in their respective countries, a high official concerned said.
He, however, said the ministry has taken multiple measures to stabilise the supply and prices of commodities across the country.
It is working to implement steps like strong market watch to keep supplies and prices of commodities stable and aiding import and export of goods, especially medicine, reads a document.
Other measures include encouraging consumers to buy a reasonable quanty of commodities in cooperation with law-enforcement agencies, it adds.
A high-powered committee, led by the commerce secretary, has been formed to control prices of essential goods, expand exports and resolve other crises.
Besides, the ministry is currently analysing the country's overall import situation.
According to a commerce ministry position paper, the current coronavirus crisis is pandemic.
The world may undergo a deep economic recession due to the COVID-19 outbreak that could also jeopardise the local economy, it mentioned.
On the other hand, the overall import saw 2.2-per cent negative growth from July to January in fiscal year (FY) 2020 compared to the same period in FY '19.
Total imports fell 14 per cent in January 2020 alone.
It is apprehended in the paper that domestic demand may fall in the next three months that will affect the import sector indirectly.
Besides, the import of industrial raw materials will also decline if export earnings fall.
"Undoubtedly, the pandemic has put the country at high health and economic risk. There has been uncertainty in import and export sectors for global supply-chain disruptions," cited the paper.
On April 15, commerce ministry constituted eight teams to monitor open-market sale (OMS) of commodities in Dhaka city, aiming to sell subsidised goods to consumers smoothly, according an official document.
