Staff Reporter: It has become common practice of traders to intentionally increase price of essential items ahead of holy month of Ramadan resulting increase of sufferings of lower and middle income group people in particular.

Taking advantage of ‘feelings of religion-loving people’ ‘unscrupulous’ traders making syndicate’ raise prices of food items and materials needed for preparing Iftar items as well as the food which usually consumed largely during the month of fasting. Religion-loving people usually give priority fasting so use to spend money for food items despite hardship.

Traders use to intentionally increase prices of items like beef, mutton, chicken, edible oil, pulse, chili, brinjal, sugar, lemon, onion, ginger, potato and so on as these items largely consumed during Ramadan. This time soaring price of broiler chicken, beef, brinjal, onion and lemon became talk of the country for ‘abnormal price hike’. People of all walks of life particularly of lower income and middle income group badly affected by ‘abnormal price hike’ of daily consumer items.

The scenario of last few days of the prices of broiler were Tk 270 per kilogram, beef Tk 750 per Kg, four pieces of lemon Tk 40 to 50, brinjal Tk 70 to Tk 80 per Kg and ginger Tk 160 per Kg. Lower income group people usually consume broiler chicken for comparatively its cheap price but now they cannot afford it for high price.

Talking to this correspondent some lower group and middle income group people serving at private offices, schools, grocery shops, day laborers, rickshawpullers and housemaids they all made similar statements of ‘unbearable’ situation.They said prices of daily essentials particularly which items consumed largely during the month of fasting have increased manifold but their salary or wage has not increased by single taka. So they cannot maintain daily life as passing humanitarian life.

Selina Hossain a private school teacher told this correspondent that she cannot spend according to requirements following ‘abnormal’ price hike.

She said ‘I have to cut items from food list and also reduced amount of items against requirement. My salary has not increased a taka so I have to maintain life frugally.’

Md. Shakhawath Hossain who works at a private office in the capital told this correspondent on Saturday that the prices of the daily items increased much compared to the previous year as a result it has become hard to survive in Dhaka city.

Talking to this correspondent retailer of broiler chicken Rahmat told this correspondent on Saturday that they have to buy at high price from wholesalers so they have nothing to do. Sale of broiler has decreased following high price as customers reluctant to buy. ‘We can sell much if can buy chicken at fair price.’ He said the price of broiler had increased to Tk 270 per Kg ahead of Ramadan. Today the price has come down to Tk 250 per Kg.’

On Thursday Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) stated that they will request the Commerce Ministry to allow the import of poultry chicken and beef in order to keep the prices of meat under control. ‘We are concerned about the recent sharp increase in the price of poultry. We will request the government to allow the import of beef and poultry for the next two to three months,’ said FBCCI president Md Jasim Uddin.

This is because there is no other way but to allow the import to bring the meat prices under control at this moment, he said at a view-exchange meeting on the import, stock, supply, and market situation of daily necessities on the occasion of Ramadan at the FBCCI office in Motijheel. He said the government has banned the import of broiler chicken, beef and eggs to protect the local industry. ‘But if industry people cheat the public, they can’t be given the protection. People’s interests should come first.’

The government has taken various steps to control the market ahead of Ramadan. The steps like monitoring market prices, mobile court against unscrupulous traders and outlets of food items at fair prices. These steps have put some positive impacts on the market.