Despite the government’s initiative to regulate prices of essential commodities, including meat and onions, consumers across various markets are experiencing minimal impact as prices continue to surge.
The government has fixed the prices of 29 products, including meat and onions, but it has no effect in most places while traders are saying they cannot sell products at a reduced price as they have brought those items at a higher rate earlier.
While visiting several kitchen markets across the capital, this reporter found green chili being sold at Tk 70, ginger at Tk 200 and garlic at Tk 170 per kg. All types of pulses are also being sold at increased prices.
The price of gram has increased from Tk 80 to Tk 85 and is being sold at Tk 110 to Tk 115 per kg. Most of the products including all types of pulses, chicken and beef are being sold at higher prices than before where government order has not reflected.
Consumers from various markets have raised concerns about the soaring prices of daily necessities, which have surpassed their purchasing power but their income has not seen a corresponding increase.
However, they have also said that they are purchasing essentials on a limited scale.
Ashraf Bhuiyan, a private job holder while talking to this reporter said, “There is a big change in prices of essential commodities within the last six months. All the prices have gone up, but our income remains the same. With low income how could we manage our demand amidst these market fluctuations?”
According to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) report on Bangladesh’s food security, in January this year, 43 percent of the country’s families had to borrow to buy food. And 17 percent of the total population was food insecure.
In the context of this report, nutritionists of the country said that if such a situation continues in the long term, negative results will be obtained in the future.
On the other hand, if consumers want to file a complaint about the price of daily goods, they are asked to call 333, but not all complaints are taken objectively. The authorities concerned are taking complaints on only eight products. The eight commodities are – rice, pulses, soybean oil, dates, chickpeas, potatoes, onions and sugar.
Although this cell has been opened for all products, access to complaints has not yet been given for all products, said a service provider on condition of anonymity.
However, even if complaints are made about these eight products, there is no immediate remedy.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Golam Rahman thinks that the necessary steps to break the illegal syndicate in the market should be taken soon. Otherwise, consumers will be deprived of their rights.
