Onion market in Bangladesh is unstable following the news of halting stoppage of onion export from India. Like the rest of the country, the price of onion has gone up in a few hours in Chattogram.
Retail and wholesale markets have seen onion being sold at unusually high prices in a span of a few days. In this situation, Chattogram district administration conducted a mobile court in the port city to control the market.
Market monitoring and mobile court were conducted led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md Umar Faruq in Khatunganj area from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sunday. At this time, 2 shops (M/s Meher Ali Traders and M/s. Mohammad Ali Ahmed) were fined and a fine of Tk 20,000 were realized in two cases for irregularities such as not having a price list and not keeping purchase and sale receipts and for selling at a higher price than the price set by the government.
Traders claimed that they have to sell onion at higher prices due to high demand. The retail traders said that they have to buy from the wholesale market at a higher price. The receipts collected from the wholesale shops show that Sowmik Traders, Abul Bashar & Sons, M/s Mohammad Farid Uddin, M/s Jannatul Mawa onions sold onion to the wholesale shops at Tk 175-198 per kg. It is known that vendors are selling onions at higher prices in Khatunganj, Chaktai and Pahartali markets.
The mobile court fined the hawkers as well as warned everyone. The mobile court also warned of legal action against those who would be found selling consumer goods including onion at abnormal prices. The executive magistrate of the district administration said that this operation will continue in public interest.
Executive Magistrate Md Umar Faruq said monitoring will continue in addition to fining various shops in the market. Also, on the pretext of reducing supply, attention is also being paid to the issue of not increasing the price of consumer goods and regular monitoring will be done, it is known from the district administration.
Deputy Commissioner Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman said, “If any wholesaler illegally stocks daily necessities or raises the prices by creating an artificial shortage of these products, the district administration can confiscate the stocked products. Strict action will be taken including jail, fine, confiscation of goods, sealing of shops and stores by conducting raids through mobile courts against hoarders.
If necessary, they will sit with Chattogram businessmen and shopkeepers and take their opinions, suggestions and arguments regarding the increasing price of onion.
