Commodity prices stable in Khulna

The price of the essential commodities has been asked to keep at a tolerable level during the upcoming holy Ramadan, as sufficient food grains and essential commodities considering the holy month, are quite available in the market now, speakers at a view exchange meeting at deputy commissioner’s office in Khulna on Tuesday said.

With Khulna deputy commissioner (DC) Khondokar Yasir Arefin in the chair, representatives of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), President and General Secretaries of different kitchen markets and shopping malls, law enforcement agencies, government officials and journalists, among others were present in the meeting.

Leaders of the kitchen markets and different business communities have committed to selling essential commodities at a fair price. They will also monitor the kitchen markets before and after Ramadan. The meeting also decided that cow meat will be sold at a price of Tk 700 per kg while goat meat will be sold at a price of Tk 950. Chicken meat also will be sold at a reasonable price especially broiler chicken.

DC Khondokar Yasir Arefin has said that mobile courts have already started to monitor the kitchen markets against price hikes, food adulteration and wholesalers who will be hoarding essential commodities at their depot.

The Government has taken necessary steps for increasing the imports of consumer goods to stabilize the market with sufficient supply during the month of holy Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr as well.

Besides, the government has instructed the respective persons to ease the opening letters of credit (LCs) for essential commodities to keep their prices at a tolerable level during Ramadan going to begin on March 23 or 24.

Though the import of goods declined slightly in the last few months, it has already bounced back within a short time.

Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, essential products against LCs opened recently have already come to the market,” said Gopi Kishan Mundra, Vice-President of KCCI in Khulna.

Several wholesales of Khulna said prices of some essential products have decreased due to its huge imports.

By starting mobile courts, law enforcement agencies have been instructed to monitor and ensure reasonable prices of daily essential commodities in the kitchen markets.

The government has already taken food-friendly programmes for low-income people including OMS and TCB, the DC added.