‘Prices of daily essentials won’t go up in Ramadan’

Secretariat Correspondent: Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, “Prices of daily essential commodities would not go up in the holy month of Ramadan as we have enough stockpile of daily essentials.”

“It is not right to take advantage of people’s weakness by increasing the prices of daily essentials ahead of the holy month,” he added.

The commerce minister came up with the comments while talking to reporters after a review meeting with traders in the secretariat on Wednesday.

“Supply and stock of essential commodities are normal and there is no shortage . . . so, no price hike in Ramadan,” Tipu said.

In the review meeting on essential commodities for the holy month of Ramadan, the minister said there is no problem in supply chain, that is why there is no logical scope of price hike.

“The traders have to set instances playing responsible roles in the upcoming Ramadan,” said Tipu seeking cooperation from the traders.

The commerce minister also cautioned that the law enforcement agencies would take stern actions if anyone tries to hike price of essential commodities artificially.

Commerce secretary Md Mofizul Islam, Bangladesh Tariff Commission Chairman Jyotirmay Dutta, FBCCI President Md Shafiul Islam Mahiuddin, TCB Chairman Brig Gen Jahangir, Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection Director General Md Shafikul Islam Laskar, City Group Chairman Fazlur Rahman, Meghna Group Chairman Mustafa Kamal and representatives of NBR, agriculture ministry, industries ministry, national intelligence agency and police, and leaders of bazaar committees were present.


risingbd/Dhaka/Mar 27, 2019/Asad/AI