VOCTA demands edible oil price hike cancellation

Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (VOCTA), a consumer rights protection voluntary organization, on Friday demanded cancellation of illogical edible oil price hike by 24 per cent at a time fixed by the government under pressure of edible oil importers and traders.

In a statement issued on Friday, VOCTA Chairman Prof Dr Hossain Uddin Shekhar and Executive Director Md Khalilur Rahman Sajal made the demand of withdrawal of the decision claiming it as ‘illogical’ as the price was not fixed with the opinion of the stakeholders and the consumers.

They claimed the authorities should consult with the stakeholders and representatives of consumer rights bodies before fixation of such price of essential commodities. But the Ministry of Commerce has fixed the price of edible oil raising 24 per cent at a time without any consultation with all stakeholders under the pressure of unscrupulous importers and traders ignoring consumers comfort.

In the statement, they said the authorities usually consult with the stakeholders and take opinion of the consumers before raising or adjusting prices of essential commodities in the developed countries across the world. But the authorities ignored the consumers before fixing the edible oil price.

“The edible oil that are being sold in the market were imported under the letter of credits (LC) opened at least three months ago. The price of international market was less than that of now. But the authorities increased the price of those oil and decided to effect the decision from Friday. It’s completely illogical and against the spirit of consumer rights protection and interests of consumers.