Home ›› 24 Mar 2023 ›› News
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) would implore the commerce ministry for allowing the import of beef, chicken, and eggs for the next few months to curb their skyrocketing price.
The apex trade body president Md Jashim Uddin on Thursday came up with the opinion while exchanging views with businessmen on the import, storage, supply and market situation of essential commodities on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan at the FBCCI auditorium in the capital.
“If beef can be sold for Tk 500 a kilogram in Dubai, we must work out why it is sold for more than Tk 700 here in Dhaka,” said Jashim.
He said the government banned the import of broiler chicken, beef and eggs to protect the local industry. “Now these items have to be imported for at least two-three months to protect the country’s consumers,” he added.
Jashim said the government would strictly monitor the market of essential commodities. “The market committees would be cancelled, if essential goods are sold at higher prices in any market. And, the government can also cancel the trade licences of the businesses. However, we don’t want that the licence of any trader cancelled or anyone arrested for charging high prices during the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.
Jashim was content with the affordable prices of most groceries including oil, sugar, lentil, and dates as there remains enough stock but he expressed concerns at the soaring prices of beef and chicken.
He called upon the traders to remain honest in pricing the groceries. Jashim questioned why the price of per kg chicken increased by Tk 100 in a month.
“We want to create an example this year to offer discounts on different occasions in Bangladesh like other countries around the globe which will be started from this Ramadan. We will choose a market as a “model market” offering discounts,” added the FBCCI chief.
The FBCCI president also said that there is a trade culture of over 200 years in the country. The business has to be smart as Bangladesh is going to be a smart one.
He called on businesses not to give any bad signal that might make the market volatile. Jashim also requested consumers not to purchase “unnecessary commodities”.
Speaking there, the representative of City Group Biswajit Saha said they have sufficient supplies of sugar and edible oil.
“There will be no supply shortage of the product during Ramadan if the supply of gas remains normal,” he also said.
The president of Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Merchants Association Mohammad Golam Mawla said the price of edible oil will not go up this month as there is enough stock of the item.
President of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity Md Helal Uddin said the commerce ministry should take stern action against the traders who sell essential products at higher prices.
FBCCI senior vice president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said their teams will also strongly monitor the daily commodities market to keep the prices of the essential commodities normal across the country.
