Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday expressed his firm pledge and said the government will take action against the syndicate as the group is now creating a monopoly in the context of commodity price hikes across the country.
"We will take a tough position against the syndicate as certain groups are unilaterally controlling the commodity price which is adversely affecting the lower income people," said the minister while explaining the government's position in case of endorsement of a bill titled "Trade Organization (Amendment) Bill, 2023" in parliament.
Explaining the government's recent initiatives on checking the commodity price, the commerce minister said the ministry has fixed the price of eggs, potatoes and onion, adding that if the price is not followed then the government will import to check the price of those items.
But it is difficult to contain the price of the agricultural commodities, he told the parliament with Deputy Speaker Shamsul Huq Tuku in the chair.
Criticising the role of the government in checking the commodity price, some opposition lawmakers, however, said: "The commerce minister himself has admitted the existence of the 'syndicates' in case of rising the commodity price in the country and it is impossible for him to take action against them."
On the price hike of beef, opposition lawmaker Hafizuddin Ahmed of Thakurgaon-3 said "The price of per kilogram beef is sold at Tk 250 in India while it is now being sold over Tk 800 in Bangladesh.”
He then asked the minister what is the reason behind this.
At least three syndicates remain behind the beef price hike, said another opposition lawmaker Pir Fazlur Rahman of Sunamganj-4 while explaining on the merit and demerit of the proposed bill.
