Potatoes, eggs, onions not being sold
FROM PAGE B1
It cannot be sold at the price fixed by the government because it was purchased at a higher price, he added.
Abdur Rahman, a wholesale trader in Karwan Bazar, one of the biggest kitchen markets in Dhaka, said conducting raids and fixing prices without increasing supply would not lead to a fall in prices at the retail level.
Mohammad Mostakim, a wholesaler of eggs in the capital’s Tejgaon area, said the price of eggs in the market has started to fall since the government announced it would import eggs from India.
He said he sold 100 eggs for Tk 1,160 yesterday. A week ago, the price of the same number of eggs was Tk 1,180-1,200.
He added that the current measures by the government may bring prices under control in the short-term, but that it was unviable as a long-term solution.
“I cannot say how much will be accomplished by fixing the price of perishable goods like onions,” said Abdul Majed, general secretary of Shyambazar Onion Traders Association.
What is the ‍scenario outside Dhaka?
It was found upon visiting the Chattogram wholesale and retail markets that potatoes were being sold at Tk 45-50 per kg in the retail market. Local onions were being sold at Tk 88-90 per kg and an egg was being sold at Tk 13-14.
“We bought each kg of potato at Tk 42 and another Tk 2-3 is added for transportation cost and wasted on it. Similarly, we buy eggs at Tk 11 per piece and sell them at Tk 12-13,” Anwar Hossain, the owner of Halim Traders in the port city’s Kazir Dewri area, told The Daily Star.
Abdur Razzak, a retailer in Bogura’s Rajabazar, said potatoes could not be bought at the price set by the government. Therefore, it could not be sold at the price set by the government.
“No potatoes were sold from our cold storage in the last two days,” said Dulal Babu, manager of Kadam Rasul cold storage in Munshiganj.
What DNCRP officials say
Mohammad Faizullah, director of the Chittagong office of the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP), said that raids were being conducted across various markets every day to protect the rights of consumers.
“But prices could still not be brought under control,” he said.
It is difficult to determine who is actually charging higher prices since there are no receipts for transactions between wholesalers and retailers. However, some prices have decreased in the past few days due to regular operations, he added.
Abdul Jabbar Mondol, assistant director of the DNCRP’s Dhaka district office, said an effect would be seen after a few days.
Selim Raihan, a professor of economics at the University of Dhaka, said there was no guarantee that the price would come down just because the price had been fixed. Besides, market supply should be increased while holding those in the value chain accountable.
He said those who manipulate the market must make credible threats.