The Chattogramdistrict administration fined six shopkeepers Tk 50,000 for selling LPG gas at a higher price than the price set by the government and creating artificial crisis of gas.
On Sunday night, Chattogram District Executive Magistrate Prateek Dutta conducted raids in various areas of the city and fined the shopkeepers.
Earlier in this month, the government fixed the price of 12 kg of LPG gas at 1,176 taka. But, shopkeepers were selling it from Tk 1,600 to Tk 2,000. When gas supply was disrupted for one day due to cyclone 'Mocha', shopkeepers in different areas of the city started selling LPG gas from Tk 2,500 to Tk 4,500.
Based on complaints, the district administration conducted mobile cort drives and fined Tk 20,000 to Taher Store and Tk 5,000 to Sohail Store in Sholshahar area of the city. In the same raid, kitchen traders of Enayet Bazar area of the city were fined Tk 10,000 and three other shop owners were fined Tk 13,000.
Executive Magistrate Prateek Dutta, who conducted the operation, said that shopkeepers claimed that dealers had hiked the gas price.
“We have assured the traders that action will be taken against the dealers. All shopkeepers including Golam Rasul Market Committee of the city have also been warned”, he said. Agencies adds: A mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Umar Farooq of the Chattogram district administration conducted the operation on Sunday.
Magistrate Umar Farooq said the shopkeepers were selling cardamom, cinnamon, red chillies, cloves, cumin and other spices at several times higher prices ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Messrs Narayan Bhandar was fined Tk20,000, Chittagong Friends Traders Tk10,000, Allah Dan Store Tk10,000 and Anil Dev Store Tk10,000 for selling spices at higher prices.
