Despite having sufficient stock of potatoes, prices are being charged high. Against this backdrop, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has launched an operation in Chattogram city to control the market.
The operation was conducted in Riazuddin market in the port city on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the owner of an egg shop and three stalls was fined Tk 13,000 for not being able to show the price list and purchase receipt.
Mohammad Faizullah, deputy director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection in Chattogram, said that the government fixed the price of potatoes to control the market, but it did not work in the market.
Many traders, buyers and sellers are not aware of fixed prices. This campaign against dishonest traders will continue.
Mohammad Abu Taiyab of M/s Mamun Traders said that today Manved potatoes are being sold at Tk 38-40 a day. As supply increases, prices will decrease. If you buy potatoes from the warehouse, you have to pay a labor charge of 10 taka and 25 taka for a bag of 50-55 kg.
At the price fixed by the government, potatoes are selling at Tk 35 to Tk 36 at the retail level (Tk 26 to Tk 27 at the frozen stage), but potatoes are being sold at Tk 42 to Tk 45 in the raw markets of the city on Friday. Sellers say they cannot buy at a higher price and sell at a lower price.
Four companies of potatoes and eggs have been fined a total of 12,000 taka for the crime of not having the correct price list in Riazuddin Bazaar, not having the ripe vouchers for the purchase of products or potatoes.
M/s Mamun Traders has been fined Tk 6,000, M/s RafrafBanijaloy Tk 3,000, M/s Kusumpura Trading Tk 3,000 and Haji Abdul Hamid Sawdagar's Egg Shop Tk 1,000.