Millers and dealers are jointly manipulating the country’s edible oil market, according to businessmen and DNCRP sources.
Moreover, Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP) warned and said oil cannot be sold without a receipt from March 11. Any irregularities will be dealt strictly, it added.
At the same time, the watchdog revealed that the sale of loose soybean oil would be stopped from May 1. The country has enough reserve to meet the demand of the consumers for the month of holy Ramadan.
DNCRP Director General (DG) AHM Safiquzzaman said the country has sufficient oil reserves to meet the demand till Ramadan. But few unscrupulous millers have been trying to increase the prices by creating an artificial crisis of edible oil.
He said this while speaking at a press briefing on present status of oil market in the capital on Tuesday.
At the briefing, the retailers and wholesalers unveiled various information including non-supply, overcharging, non-payment of receipts and other issues. The edible oil sellers demanded for a joint monitoring team. The team should be formed to ensure adequate supply from the mill, they added.
A representative of the sellers at the meeting said, “The mills had not sold any soybean oil to us in last one month. We are facing trouble while selling oil which we bought without receipt earlier. So we request DNCRP to avail the supply.”
They also said that there are only five to six oil mills in the country. Representatives from DNCRP, FBCCI, and oil business community should be at the mill gate to monitor the supply of oil.
DNCRP spokespersons said the country have sufficient edible oil. No concession would be given to those involved in raising prices by creating an artificial crisis. There will be no problem until the end of Ramadan as the country has sufficient oil. The issue of war in Ukraine is being used as an excuse only, they added.
