Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to remain vigil so that no one can manipulate the prices of essentials during the holy month of Ramadan. The minister said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the deputy commissioners at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city on Wednesday.
The holy month of Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, is about to begin on March 23 as per the astronomical calculations. The deputy commissioners have been asked to take strict measures so that no one can manipulate the price of necessary items during Ramadan. Also, they have been instructed to implement all steps taken by the government.
The government must destroy the
unholy syndicate and take stern
actions against dishonest traders
Every year the government takes various steps to keep prices of the essentials within a tolerable level at any cost ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. Authorities concerned always assure people, saying there would be no shortage of essential commodities in the country and no shortfall in supply during the upcoming Ramadan. But a dishonest clique becomes desperate to pocket hefty profits holding the people hostage forming syndicates ahead of the holy month every year.
Despite having enough stocks of essential commodities, some greedy and dishonest businesspeople are waiting for the holy month to create an artificial crisis. Therefore, apart from the government, all must remain alert against illegal hoarding, storage and syndication.
On the other hand, senior leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and anti-liberation forces in a planned way have already started instigating the syndicates to increase commodity prices. In the name political programme, BNP’s senior leaders are still provoking the dishonest traders to increase prices of essential commodities in order to create artificial crisis.
The government must destroy the unholy syndicate and take stern actions against dishonest traders. We are also calling upon the businessmen not to hike the prices of essentials including oil, onion, pulse and sugar during the month of Ramadan. We hope that the prices of essential commodities will remain tolerable during the upcoming month of Ramadan.
