As the wholesale price of green coconut is between Tk 40 and Tk 70, the maximum retail price of this fruit, very helpful for dengue patients, should be Tk 100 per piece.
Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) made the observation at a meeting on green coconut in Dhaka on Monday. Green coconut wholesale and retail traders and law enforcement agency representatives were present at the meeting.
It was announced in the meeting to conduct drive in the market regularly to control the price of coconut on behalf of DNCRP. In addition, traders were instructed to keep purchase and sales receipts. According to the department, traders will have to face severe penalties, including fines, if they sell green coconut at higher price than the fair price.
Green coconut prices have been increasing since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. When the dengue cases increased in the country this year, the price of this fruit also went up unusually.
Due to steep increase in its prices, the common people except the high income ones cannot afford to buy green coconut when they need it badly. Green coconut is retailing for Tk 170-200 each. If its size is a bit small, retailers are asking Tk 130-150 for each.
Director General of DNCRP AHM Shafiuzzaman who presided over the meeting said taking advantage of the spread of dengue, the price of green coconut has suddenly doubled. “Unethical profiteering of the traders by taking helpless patients as hostage is not acceptable in any way.”
In such situation, a special drive was conducted by the DNCRP on August 24, 26 and 27 at the wholesale market in Dhaka city on midnight.
The highest price of green coconut was Tk 40-70 at wholesale level. That is why coconut cannot retail for more than Tk 100 each, which has been selling at more than double price. No sales or purchase receipts are kept for purchasing and selling coconut. So, prices increased at wholesale and retail levels.
“Can you say that due to dengue, transport fare has increased or illegal toll collection has increased?,” he asked the businessmen. Nothing happened, but the price of coconut has increased.
He said, “We have already started working at the green coconut market across the country. It has put an impact on the market. The price of this essential fruit has started to fall. DNCRP will keep monitoring until the maximum retail price drops below Tk 100 each.”
