Commodity syndicates hold consumers hostage

Prices of essentials in the market are skyrocketing with the helpless customers being held hostage day by day by the potato, onion, chilli and other commodity syndicates although there is no natural disaster in the country.

The prices of essential vegetables have become uncontrollable. The prices of potatoes, eggplants and green chillies have doubled in a month.

After onion, chilli and vegetables, now the price of potato is simmering. A month ago, the price of potato was between 25 to 30 taka per kg. Now, it is being sold at 50-55 taka per kg.

Although the government has fixed the price of potatoes, the traders are not abiding by it. Nothing is going to stop the syndicate traders. As a result, consumers and the government to some extent have become hostages to them.

Last Wednesday (October 14), the Department of Agriculture Marketing has issued a written order to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the country fixing the prices of per kg potato. Accordingly, the price of per kg potato should be 23 taka in cold storage, 25 taka in wholesale and 30 taka in the retail market. At the same time, a letter has been sent to the DCs requesting them to take necessary measures for strict monitoring and surveillance so that the three parties, including those at the cold storage, wholesalers and retailers at the consumer level, sell potatoes at the mentioned prices.

It was decided to take disciplinary action by the law enforcement agencies and consumer rights authorities if potatoes are not sold at the stipulated price.

However, the sellers are still not abiding by the price fixed by the government. They are still selling potatoes at 50 taka per kg in retail on various pretexts. Meanwhile, buyers have expressed anger over the non-sale of potatoes at the prices fixed by the government. The sellers say that if they buy potatoes at higher prices than before, they will have to incur losses if they sell potatoes at the price fixed by the government.

Expressing displeasure over non-sale of potatoes at the price fixed by the government, Hafiz Uddin, a consumer at Mohammadpur Town Hall Bazar, said traders had syndicated and increased the price of potatoes. Potatoes are not being sold at the prices fixed by the government.

The businessmen are showing their thumbs up to the government. The government should be more stringent in this regard, he added. At that time, seller Rasul Mia said, I have bought per kg of potatoes at 46 to 48 taka. There are other costs involved. So, selling potatoes for 30 taka will not make profit for me.

Besides, in these markets, the prices on various vegetables have gone up by 20 per kg. The information was obtained by visiting various markets in the capital on Friday (October 16).

Per kg of asparagus bean is being sold at 100 taka, beans at 120 taka, carrots between 90 to 100 taka, eggplants between 80 to 100 taka and the price of coriander leaves varies between 250 to 280 taka. Besides, per kg domestic cucumber is being sold at 90 to 100 taka, hybrid cucumber at 70 to 80 taka, balsam apple between 70 to 80 taka, snake gourd at 70 to 80 and ridge gourd at 70 to 80 taka per kg. Depending on the size, sweet bitter gourd is being sold at 70 taka, pointed gourd between 60 to 70 taka and papaya between 40 to 50 taka.

Meanwhile, the prices of beef, fish and mutton have remained unchanged despite a slight increase in the price of chicken in the market. Mutton is being sold at 800 taka per kg and the price of beef stands between 500 to 550 taka per kg. Per kg broiler chicken is being sold between 135 to 140 taka, layer chickens at 220 taka, golden chickens at 260 to 280 taka and domestic chickens at 500-550 taka.

However, the fish market remains stable.

sr/wi