An exchange meeting was held with traders to stabilize the daily consumer goods market under the initiative of the Chattogram Chamber.
A discussion meeting with traders to stabilize the market of daily necessities during the upcoming month of Ramadan was held at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall at the World Trade Center on Monday morning.
Chattogram Chamber President Mahbubul Alam presided over the meeting. Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Aminur Rahman, special guests CMP Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy, Chattogram Range DIG Md. Anwar Hossain, Deputy Director of Local Government Department Dr. Badiul Alam, and National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Deputy-Director Mohammad Faiz Ullah.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Aminur Rahman said that a country is run by these combinations of businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats. But if there is no coordination between these three, we will be in danger. So this coordination is important.
Many want to destabilize the market with excessive profits and expired and adulterated products around the month of Ramadan. The administration will take action against those who engage in such activities or create artificial crises. In this case, no lobbying or concession will be given.
Chamber President Mahbubul Alam said that due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the supply chain was greatly disrupted and the price of goods increased, but due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firmness, the distribution program of consumer goods at reduced prices for the marginalized groups and the reduction and exemption of import duties to prevent the increase in the price of goods for all consumers are due to various reasons, including Ramadan and Eid. Centralized supply chains are seamless.
The Chattogram Chamber has been working with the government in all market monitoring initiatives and promised to continue in the future, he said, "We will do business but we must keep the supply chain in place so that there is no inconvenience to the consumers." Therefore, without creating an artificial crisis, all the traders should display the price list of the products and considering the humanitarian aspect, the traders of Chattogram should set the precedent of festival-centric discounts.
Special guest Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy said that law and order worsened around Ramadan and Eid. So we will increase monitoring to keep law and order smooth. Law and order forces will always be ready in the interests of the general public for the needs of the administration and businessmen.
Chattogram Range DIG Md. Anwar Hossain said that traders increase the price of products by showing various excuses, Ramzan is a holy month. Therefore, considering the moral aspects, we should stand by the people instead of selling products, and prevent adulteration and artificial crises by making limited profit.
Deputy Director of Local Government Department Dr. Badiul Alam said, we are holding such meetings because there is no coordination and monitoring among traders. If traders are aware then there is no need for strictness of administration. However, mobile operations will be conducted against those who adopt dishonest means.
Mohammad Faiz Ullah, deputy director of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, said that in many cases, traders cannot show any vouchers for selling products from wholesale to retail. As a result, they increase the price at will. Therefore, the operation will be continued against those who will conduct business without purchase and sale vouchers.
Chamber Vice President Syed Mohammad Tanveer said, Chattogram Chamber is working to develop a digital platform for supply chain monitoring of daily necessities from importers and manufacturers to retailers in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and NBR to build Smart Bangladesh of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Through this the supply and price manipulation of essential commodities will be prevented and the concerned traders, administration and policy makers will be able to know the stocks, prices and supply of the commodities instantly.
Chattogram Custom House Joint Commissioner Mohammad Tafshir Uddin Bhuiyan, Chattogram Chamber Vice President Syed Mohammad Tanveer, Chamber Directors AKM Akter Hossain, Md Ahid Siraj Chowdhury (Swapan), former Director Mahfuzul Haque Shah, Chattogram Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Vice President AM Mahbub Chowdhury, C&F Agents Association General Secretary Kazi Mahmud Imam Bilu, CAB General Secretary Iqbal Bahar Saberi, Mahanagar Shop Owners Association President Salamat Ali, Bangladesh Shop Owners Association's Chattogram District President Saleh Ahmed Suleiman, Pahartali Traders Association Jahangir Alam, General Secretary of Mahanagar Shop Owners Association Touhidul Alam, Metropolitan Shop Owners Association Abul Kashem, President of Chattogram Fresh Fruits Vegetables Exporters Association Mahbub Rana, Mimi Super Market President Joynal Abedin Kanchan spoke. Chamber directors Md. Zahirul Islam Chowdhury (Alamgir), Anjan Shekhar Das, senior officials of various government departments, civil society and business leaders were present.