Home ›› 27 Feb 2023 ›› Front
Retail traders in the capital have promised that they will not increase the prices of essential commodities during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
However, they demanded taking necessary measures to ensure the adequate supply of products during the fasting month and stop the wholesalers from pushing up the prices of essentials.
They made the promise and the demand at a meeting with businessmen on Sunday.
Retailers said every year traders are blamed for illogically raising the prices of goods during the fasting month. Various government agencies conduct raids and impose fines. If the adequate supply of products is ensured and the wholesale prices remain stable, then the prices of any products, including rice, lentils, edible oil, sugar, chickpeas and date, will not go up at retail level.
If the government ensures enough supply, traders said, they will sell products at the government-fixed prices. If someone pushes up prices unreasonably, they will resist it together. “Don’t let it become a bad thing for one or two dishonest businessmen.”
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh was the chief guest at the view-exchange meeting organised by Directorate of National Consumers Rights Protection (DNCRP) at TCB auditorium in the capital.
Presided over by Director General of DNCRP AHM Shafiquzzaman, the meeting was also addressed by TCB Chairman Ariful Hassn, FBCCI President Jasim Uddin, Shop Owners Association President Helal Uddin and CAB President Golam Rahman.
Golam Rahman said, “Farmers and traders exist because there are consumers, so that consumers survive. Reasonable prices of the products should be ensured. Traders can play a key role in this regard. They also need to make profits, but this gain should be reasonable. There should be healthy competition in the market.”
Businessmen can earn profits in two ways--one is by reducing the prices and selling more and the other is by increasing the prices and selling less, he said urging them to reduce the prices of essentials in Ramadan and make more profits.
Many high-income consumers shop for a month during Ramadan and stock goods at home. So, the demand for products in the market suddenly rises, he added.
The TCB Chairman said in almost all countries of the world, during religious or social festivals, traders reduce the prices of products, but traders in our country drive up the prices of products in Ramadan.
To keep the market stable, he said, TCB will sell products in two phases from February 28 on the occasion of Ramadan.
The FBCCI President said during Ramadan, consumers, traders and the government are under pressure because the prices of the products increase during this time. “Our big problem is that they suddenly reduce the supply of some products and increase the prices. Not all traders can take responsibility for such crimes of some traders. For this reason, we have to stop selling open products and gradually move towards packaged products. In that case, there will be profit by fixing the prices of the products.”
Helal Uddin said although the prices of the country’s products have increased slowly, one and a half to two million low-income people are suffering a lot due to the high prices of the products. “Every year the DNCRP fines us for various reasons, but this year we want to spend without penalty. We don’t want to be fined by raising prices and adulterating products.”
Tapan Kanti Ghosh said in a country with millions of traders, it is not possible to keep the market stable by forcing them to abide by laws or fixing the prices. “If everyone is honest and sells products at reasonable prices, and does not adulterate foods, then the market will be fine.”
