Price hikes mar Eid festival for many

It is very hard to recall a time before any of the two Eids when prices of essential items haven’t gone up. We have taken it for granted that Eid means increases in price hikes. Now this price hike has become synonymous with the words Eid and Ramzan. When malpractice continues for a long time in a society it is established as a rule. We know unscrupulous traders and businessmen in league with a section of influential people do it. The people who are involved in such immoral and unethical acts are so omnipotent that even the long hand of law can’t reach them.

During every month of Ramzan and before the Eid festival, we write on this same issue. People suffer for a handful of people who hold the entire nation hostage during Ramzan and Eid festivals. They make money leaving most of the people half-fed and unfed during these two biggest festivals of Muslims. Every year the same story unfolds but this year the hikes in prices of dairy products are so disproportionate that it has marred the dreams of most low and middle-income people.

Even what the government data reveals is terrifying. It says prices of some Eid items have increased by 56 per cent. If this is the reality how a person whose salary has seen no increase at all in a year can afford to manage his family with his income is a big question and that too before a festival when people need a bit more money. Is there any answer to this question? Probably there is no answer.

While talking to The Business Post on January 18 some traders said prices of essential items might see a further rise in a day or two as the Eid festival was still a week away. When vermicelli, one of the popular delicacies of the Eid festival, goes up by Tk40 a kg and when sugar, without which one can’t think of any festival, goes up by Tk40 a kg, what more is left for a further rise?

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data says the price of sugar has increased by 43 per cent, edible oil by 18 per cent, onion 27 per cent, powdered milk 22 per cent, cumin 56 per cent and meat by 32 per cent. This is a gloomy picture for commoners who are to depend only on their monthly salary and who have no extra income - no bribe, no corrupt act and no toll collection. Traders said the sugar was selling at a much higher price than the price fixed by the government.

If it is true then why doesn’t the government take action against those who are behind the disproportionate hike in the sugar price? Every person this newspaper met asked the same question. If those people are allowed to go scot-free what are the jobs of the different government agencies who are assigned to monitor the market manipulation? They also questioned despite a falling trend of prices of daily essentials in the international market why it didn’t have any impact on our market.

In one of our editorials at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan we tried to bring this issue to the notice of the government. We are again urging the government to monitor the organizations that are designated to monitor price manipulation. If the prices of dairy products go up further people will have their backs to the wall. It will be a life-and-death situation.