The prices of nine essential commodities will be fixed in the next seven days in line with the global market. To control market volatility, it will be mandatory to display price list of products in all business establishments.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told this in response to questions from reporters after attending a programme as the chief guest at the National Press Club on Friday.
The minister said, “Different organisations including our consumer department and the tariff commission have been given the responsibility to fix the reasonable prices of the products. We have given the tariff commission 15 days. It may take another 7 days to start work.”
“We have already fixed the price of nine products including food, steel so that businessmen cannot take any opportunities to manipulate markets,” he added.
In response to a question about the unstable market of eggs, the minister said, “How much it should be increased will be determined by the Tariff Commission after analysing the increased cost of chicken feed, transportation and other related things. I hope this will be reasonable for everyone.”
Tipu Munshi said, in view of the current situation, a rational wage board needs to be constituted. We will discuss the matter.
Regarding the demands of the garment workers, he said, “Their demands are reasonable. But some of these are included in the Ministry of Labour. As Commerce Minister, I can tell the Ministry of Labour and the employers as soon as possible to set up a wage board and fix a reasonable wage in view of the current situation.”
Regarding the formation of trade unions, the minister said, “I do agree with them, the right to form trade unions should be given. But it has to be logical. The workers need such factories they are working in, similarly the factory owners are also in need of them. So, they all should logically work side by side for their own interests.”
