An organised unholy racket of dishonest traders increased the price of green coconut to Taka 200 per piece since the outbreak of dengue fever in the capital Dhaka.
Green coconuts are considered essential for replenishing fluids in dengue patients as the fruit contains sweet, cool and pure water which refreshes the body, according to physicians.
So, demand for green coconut has increased as dengue situation has taken a serious turn across the country. The highest price of green coconut at the wholesale level was found between Taka 40 and Taka 70. That is why the best quality green coconut cannot be more than Taka 100 at retail level. But the traders are selling green coconut at Taka 200 per piece in the city cashing in on the dengue crisis.
And the green coconut price increasing spree is going on at every level of wholesale and retail as no one keeps any voucher or sales receipt for it.
We have been noticing since long that the unscrupulous traders work in a gang and wait for a crisis period. As soon as they get the scope, they start looting people’s money by enhancing the price of essentials. They adopt this strategy to raise the price of any essential since long under the very nose of the authorities concerned and start making hefty profits.
There is no alternative
but to get tough on
syndicates responsible
for increasing the price
of green coconut
Following skyrocketing price hike of green coconut, the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection (DNCRP) at a meeting with traders on Monday asked the traders to keep receipts in buying and selling of green coconut, otherwise strict action will be taken for it. DNCRP Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman also asked the traders to bring down the price of green coconut to Taka 100 per piece with immediate effect.
The officials of DNCRP have already started conducting regular market surveillance to control the price of green coconut.
If the price is somehow higher than the fair price, the traders must be brought to book.
Local administration will also have to monitor the price of green coconut at all major markets of capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cites, district towns and upazila headquarters.
On the other hand, if the government does not get tough on the organised thugs and syndicate is not broken, the price of green coconut like other daily essentials will not come down.
There is no alternative but to get tough on syndicates responsible for increasing the price of green coconut.
