Sylhet Correspondent:
There have been allegations that some unscrupulous businessmen have increased the prices of daily necessities by forming a syndicate ahead of the month of Ramadan. The prices of all kinds of goods have been seen increasing in the last two days. After this news spread, the administration has taken a hard line to prevent the increase in the prices of daily necessities in the market during Ramadan, and to control the prices of goods including the sale of adulterated food.
To prevent unscrupulous traders from syndicating and increasing the prices of essential commodities during the month of Ramadan, the administration has taken steps to strictly monitor the prices of essential commodities in Sylhet city, district and upazila levels, including the district administration, upazila administration, agricultural office and consumer rights, so that people of all walks of life, including low-income people, can purchase essential commodities at the prescribed prices in shops. A preparatory meeting was held on Wednesday (February 26, 25) at around 11:30 am in the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner's conference room on this issue.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad and conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Anwaruzzaman. During this time, the ADC of SMP, Assistant Director of Sylhet BSTI, Executive Officer of Sylhet Import and Export Office, Chief Property Officer of Sylhet City Corporation, Sylhet District Food Controller, Senior Agricultural Marketing Officer, Sylhet Department of Agriculture, Sylhet Sadar Upazila Animal Resources Officer, Assistant Director of Sylhet National Consumer Rights Protection Department, General Secretary of Sylhet Auto Rice Mill Owners Association, President of Lalbazar Traders Association, General Secretary of Haji Noab Ali Market, General Secretary of Sylhet Vegetable Market and other business leaders of Sylhet joined the meeting and spoke.
Discussions were held on reviewing and monitoring the market prices of daily necessities, operating mobile courts to prevent harmful chemicals and adulteration in food products, reducing traffic congestion and ensuring safe supply of goods, and displaying price lists in visible places in every shop in the market.
Stressing the importance of keeping the market situation under control during the holy month of Ramadan, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad directed all concerned to regularly monitor the market and said, "I call on the retail and wholesale traders of the district to avoid hoarding products and the attitude of making more profits and to conduct business with a service mentality."
Meanwhile, the district administration has started mobile court operations from Wednesday (February 26, 2020) to prevent the sale of essential commodities at high prices. The mobile court operation will continue daily during Ramadan.
It is known that before Ramadan, unscrupulous traders in Sylhet syndicated and increased the prices of daily necessities. The administration took action in advance to ensure that there was no syndicate over the price of goods this year. Earlier, a strict message was given to the traders. The administration made it mandatory to display the price list in every shop. Earlier, according to the price fixed by the City Corporation for meat, beef would be sold at 750 taka, khasi meat at 1000 taka, buffalo at 650 taka, goat-sheep at 950 taka, golden chicken at 300 to 320 taka, and broiler chicken at 170 to 180 taka.
Ashraful Alam, a resident of the city's Amberkhana area, said, "I strongly demand from the administration and businessmen that the prices of goods remain within the reach of the people during Ramzan."
