Fish, meat, milk and egg would not increase in price during the upcoming Ramadan, fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim said on Saturday.
The prices of these commodities would be under control during the fasting month if market management and monitoring system are strengthened, he hoped.
Like previous years, Mr Karim said, his ministry would open mobile sales centres for selling those essential items at rational rates to consumers.
The government will take the private sector's cooperation, if need be, to contain the skyrocketing prices of these items during Ramadan.
The minister made these observations while inaugurating the Livestock Service Week and Exhibition-2023 in Dhaka city.
He thanked the private sector for moving the fisheries and livestock sector forward.
Once upon a time, Mr Karim said, Bangladesh was heavily dependent on imported cattle for sacrificing animals during Eid-ul-Azha. But the country has achieved self-sufficiency in livestock rearing now, he added.
"We (the government) are providing all-out support to the private sector to take the fisheries and livestock sector forward," he said.
The country exports fish varieties.
One day, it would also be able to export meat, egg and milk, Mr Karim hoped.
He said due to expansion of the livestock sector, people did not face any crisis to get essential proteins even during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last Ramadan, the government sold beef at Tk 500 per kilogram to help people consume meat at an affordable price, he concluded.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com