In the wake of panic over the Corona virus disease, the demand and price of facemasks have increased in the capital's markets.
Most pharmacies and surgical stores in the capital have been out of supply of masks since more than a week with all pharmacies charging four to five times higher than the regular price for the item.
Although low-cost (one-time) masks are found in some street shops on the pavement, they are also being priced at a few times higher than normal. Upon investigating around the city, this correspondent found that pharmacy owners intentionally hiked the price of facemasks as the corona fear grows.
Pharmacy dealer, Kamrul at Mirpur 11 said, there were masks in the pharmacy, but they were not selling because of the high prices. Customers ask, but we are unable to provide them, he added. Despite the limited supply of masks, some shopkeepers are selling at a higher price which is around 150-180.
The masks originally come from China. The cost per box for a one-time mask is Tk 80 to 100. Now, dishonest pharmacy sellers are selling it at six hundred taka. "We are getting masks here, but the price is a little higher," said a seller at Lazz Pharma Pharmacy in Kalabagan.
On condition of anonymity, a Pharmacy dealer at Panthapath said, the one-time mask box is selling at Tk 500, even though it is Tk 250. Babu, a seller at Arkham Pharmacy, said that the past week's delivery of masks did not come. Mask company representative is not available to take our product order.
Azadur Rahman and Tanjina Parvin said, "We bought two filter masks from Lazz Pharma for Tk 120. Three days ago it was Tk 50. Now the price has gone up.” Assistant Director of the Drug Administration Department, Shafiqul Islam said, mask crisis has not been observed as yet.
“Our director general (DG) sir has already informed mask makers in the country about this situation,” he added. Importers were also asked to import masks from different countries. Hopefully, this crisis will not last long," he stressed.