The government has taken it as a challenge to contain the prices of rice and other essential commodities as per the electoral manifesto of the Awami League (AL).
In this view, different government agencies have launched massive drives to bring the commodity market under control. They also started market monitoring in different ways.
Earlier on Wednesday, the food minister warned the businessmen and issued a four-day ultimatum for reducing the prices of rice and other essentials.
Within one week, the price of rice has increased by Tk 5-6 per kg depending on the quality and type in retail and wholesale markets across the country despite an adequate rice supply in the market.
Price of medium and coarse rice increased but the price of fine rice has increased the most.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of rice rose by 2 to 5.5 per cent by standard in most markets.
Soon after the price hike of rice in the county, the government took various measures including the mobile court drive and rice import to curb the price of the rice.
Following the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to keep the rice price within the buying capacity of common people and prevent illegal stockpiling, various teams and agencies of the government are conducting drives all over the country including the capital.
A good number of vigilance teams of the government have been conducting raids in various districts and upazilas of the country, including the capital city to control the rice price and prevent illegal stocking. Illegal rice hoarding has already been unearthed and fines have been imposed on the hoarders during the drives and arrangements have been made to sell the rice in market quickly.
The government has directed mill owners and traders to reduce prices within four days and warned of rice imports if they fail to bring down prices that have soared recently by Tk 5-6 per kg nationwide.
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu on Thursday said, “No one can create an artificial crisis in the market through illegally hoarding products. The government is taking strict actions against those who are trying to destabilise the market by unfairly increasing the prices of commodities for making good profits.”
Mr Titu urged the people not to increase the prices of commodities by creating an artificial crisis during the month of Ramadan.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday said that the government is taking a zero tolerance policy against the illegal hoarders.
He said this at a virtual views-exchange meeting with the administrative officials of eight departments on what to do to speed up anti-illegal stockpiling activities at secretariat in the capital.
“No one can deal in rice without food grain licence," he said.
The food minister directed the administrative officials to take actions according to the law if anyone is found stocking rice illegally without a licence.
Sadhan said that the government's priority now is to keep the common people in peace by controlling the market.
“If everyone works with sincerity, commodity prices will come down very soon,” he hoped.
On Thursday, the mobile court imposed a fine of Tk 9,000 to two rice traders in Bara Bazar on Islampur Road of Feni town. The traders were fined because the purchase vouchers of the two establishments were not matched with sales receipts, price lists not being updated and displayed.
District Administration Executive Magistrate Md Badruddoja led the mobile court with the help of District Agriculture Marketing Officer Harun Ur Rashid and District Police.
Executive Magistrate Md Badruddoja said, “We conducted a raid on Islampur Road in Bara Bazar of Feni. At that time, while visiting Mrs Wahab Trading, it was found that there was no match between the purchase voucher and the sales receipt. Besides, the manager of the establishment was not able to show the retail sales receipt. That’s why the establishment was fined Tk 5,000.”
The owner of that establishment was fined Tk 4,000 for the same offence by raiding the rice paddy of Kazi Ohidur Rahman of the same market, he said.
He also said Kazi Ohidur Rahman’s rice mill was fined Tk 4,000 for the same offence. Several rice mills have been warned during the raid.
Two mobile courts on Wednesday fined five establishments a total of Tk 2,10,000 and sealed a warehouse for illegally storing paddy and rice in Naogaon.
Many people alleged that despite sufficient production, stockpiles and import of daily essentials, prices of many items, including rice, onions and potatoes have increased manifold because of the syndication of some traders, warehouse keepers and mill owners.
