Sunday, May 05, 2024
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) conducted drives across the country on Tuesday aimed at controlling the prices of essential commodities, including green chilli and sugar.
The drives were conducted simultaneously in 41 districts of the country, including three areas in Dhaka city. Green chilli prices declined by Tk 20-30 per kg in the wholesale markets following the drives.
DNCRP conducted a drive on Monday and made a price list of green chilli. According to the list, green chilli was sold for Tk 160-344 per kg in the wholesale markets and for Tk 160-390 per kg in the retail markets of Dhaka.
DNCRP officials said prices have dropped at wholesale level since the drives began on Monday. The price of the vegetable decreased further on Tuesday compared to the previous day.
Besides, efforts are being made to stop the sale of sugar at higher prices.
A team led by DNCRP’s Assistant Director Abdul Jabbar Mondol conducted drives in Uttara’s Johura Market, Badda and Mohakhali kitchen markets of Dhaka city on Tuesday.
“We conducted drives in all the markets, but our main objective was to monitor the prices of chilli and sugar because the prices of these products have increased significantly,” said Abdul Jabbar, adding that the prices had decreased by Tk 40-50 compared to the previous day.
According to him, wholesalers of those markets sold chilli at Tk 120-130 per kg on Tuesday, which was Tk 160-180 on the previous day.
He further added that there was no supply crunch of green chilli in the market.
During the drives, many shops were fined for not displaying a price list of daily commodities, including sugar.
DNCRP’s objective is to ensure that stores display product prices properly for the benefit of consumers.
Some 118 stores were fined Tk 6.21 lakh during the drives across the country, said a press release issued by DNCRP on Tuesday.
During the drives, DNCRP officials compared the purchase and sale prices of green chilli in Karwan Bazar, Gulshan kitchen market, Banani Bazar, Uttara, Badda and Mohakhali markets, Palashi Bazar, Hatirpool kitchen market and New Market area of Dhaka city.
Both wholesale and retail traders confirmed that there was an ample supply of green chilli. The prices are expected to fall further.
According to DNCRP, the price of green chilli was stable and supply was normal.
Previously, the prices of green chilli increased significantly a few days before Eid due to supply shortage. In a span of just a few days, the wholesale price of green chilli increased to Tk 550 per kg and retail prices went up to Tk 700 per kg.
As the land ports reopened after Eid holidays and import of green chilli from India, its market prices started to fall considerably on Monday.
Green chilli was sold for Tk 200-250 per kg in different kitchen markets of the country on Monday. However, retailers who had earlier bought chilli at higher price sold them for around Tk 300.
