Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the business community not to raise the prices of essentials, including sugar and edible oil, during the upcoming Ramadan. She made the call at a function arranged marking the inauguration and laying the foundation stones of 65 different development activities of economic zones through video conferencing from Ganobhaban in the city on 4 April 2019.
On the other hand, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi yesterday said the traders have to ensure fair price of essential commodities in the holy month of Ramadan. "Supply and stock of essential commodities are normal and there is no shortage . . . so, no price hike in Ramadan," he added. In a review meeting on essential commodities for the holy month of Ramadan, the minister at his secretariat office 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.
During the month of Ramadan, the Honorable Prime Minister's and Commerce Minister said such types of statements were appreciated for traders in the price control of the essentials productions.
But sadly, when Ramadan comes every year, traders increase the price of essential commodity prices, which are not desirable, in many cases. Though there is no hesitation in saying, the rise in consumer prices in Ramadan has become a regular occurrence in our country. Of course, from wholesale to retail merchants, they all choose Ramadan as a month of earning money, which is not desirable.
Again, there are some unscrupulous traders in the society, who got so much profit in the month of Ramadan that more than the whole year. Most consumer goods prices in Ramadan increased manifold more than normal prices. In general, consumers are affected. Although told by the government, businessmen prefer to go to their own policies.
Since the administration has been selling huge quantities of Ramadan over the whole year, the Government is struggling to prevent the artificial price rise of different wing products. It is necessary to prevent more people from getting rid of this price, and to prevent traders from doing such illegal activities, it is more important to monitor them more.
Not only in Ramadan month but in addition to Ramadan, the amount of increase in the short-term crisis of consumer goods will not return to the previous state. This is one of the main reasons for consumer price rise. In some cases, even if not less than half of the total increase. Increased prices also last forever. We do not see any strong initiative from the respective government departments to control this price. The rate of interest related to the liability is seen more often, which is not desirable.
Generally, the introduction of Ramadan month, one-class black market, dishonest businessmen create artificial crisis of daily food and commodities, and increase the prices of goods. They are creating food commodities and artificial crisis to increase the prices of food, which is neither the most hateful act nor the punishable offense.
The attempt to gain more profits by cheating the customer and creating the impact of the crisis is largely inhumane and fraudulent. Such situations have a great effect on the lives of the people of the country's limited income. Due to such unconvincing and unwelcome activities of traders, the prices have to go upward, which is necessary to control.
Even though these works, the wholesale and retail vendors of the country's one-kilogram magenta make excuses for the merchandise price by showing excuses. When the Ramadan arrives every year, the cycle of profits becomes more and more active. As a result, the price of the goods goes beyond the purchasing power of the common man. In this, when the common people have to eat or do fasting Ramadan.
We want to end this situation. Therefore, we believe that the government should instruct the authorities to take appropriate measures to keep the price of the market stable during the month of Ramadan and to keep it at a tolerable level under the purchasing power of the people.
In the month of Ramadan no man should be seen to observe Ramadan in the face of starvation, the importance of the statement made by the Honorable Prime Minister in this regard will be to keep the prices of the commodity prices at the forefront in the purchasing power of the general public, which is our demand for the businessmen.
Ultimately, it is more important to control all the dishonest businessmen in order to prevent price hike and strictly suppress the magistrates who create artificial crisis of food products in the market. Because, in the month of Ramadan, people who eat religious ceremonies are not allowed to suffer.
Therefore, we believe that it is imperative for the government to initiate and implement the syndicate of the untouchables from the syndicate of one class and implement the government's visible initiative to free the market from free and fair, clean and special groups.
With this goal, the 'fair price control cell' has been constituted to ensure the punishment of the unjust businessmen under the supervision of the entire city, city, ports and villages throughout the day. In order to prevent them from raising the price of trade and commerce, it is important to consider such activities as a strict punishable offense.
Since the government's responsibility to keep the prices of commodities in stable prices, control of the market and controlling any kinds of food producers and traders need to take necessary measures to prevent abnormal price fluctuations.
On the eve of Maha Ramadan, when the dishonest businessmen create artificial crises and want to inflame prices, the government will have to take remedial action by controlling and fixing the prices of the commodity market. The government will have to increase the surveillance to implement the fair price fixation process. Besides, general peoples will also be aware and vocal.
It is essential to take a special role to keep prices of essential commodities in stable and tolerant manner in the month of Ramadan, policy-ethics, accountability and Islamist public service. For this reason, it seems that every businessman of the society will be able to play a more effective role in establishing himself as a man of self-respecting, unselfish, noble personality.
We want to see good moral values among those who are involved in all fraudulent activities, including fraud, interest transactions, etc. In order to prevent price rise in the month of Ramadan, along with the Government and the honest people should come forward to control those who are in these unconventional activities. That's our want.
Md. Atikur Rahman, Columnist & Head PRO at BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology
(BUFT). Email:
[email protected]
Latest News