The government will not bow down to the traders’ demand for withdrawal of the new prices of 29 essential goods as the prices have been fixed based on the data gathered from the production to consumers level, officials said.
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (BSOA) at a press briefing on Tuesday urged the Department of Agricultural Marketing to withdraw the notification that fixed the prices for 29 essential commodities.
Helal Uddin, president the association, claimed that the new prices fixed by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) are illogical and not based on the market situation.
He said that the prices has been fixed by the government agency without sufficient scrutiny and consideration and so ‘we demand withdrawal of the notification on the new prices of the essentials.
The leaders of the association said that there will be no option but to stop their business unless the government changes the decision.
“In a competitive market driven by open economy, prices should not be fixed by the authorities concerned. If prices are predetermined in the current market situation, it will be a matter of concern for us,” said Helal Uddin.
The shop owners association placed a seven-point demand for submission to the Prime Minister, including withdrawal of the notification on the new prices of 29 essentials. Their other demands are ensuring accurate statistics of import and production of various products, increase capacity of the TCB, reforming market management and bringing consumer goods under the same ministry, ensuring supply according to the market demand, creating stress-free business environment, and reducing taxes on all consumer goods to a tolerable level.
The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) on Friday issued a notification fixing the prices of essential commodities exercising its power under 4 (i) of Agricultural Marketing Act 2018.
When asked about the demand of shop owners’ association, DAM director general Md. Masud Karim told the Bangladesh Post, “We have prepared the price list based on the data collected from field to consumers’ level and taking opinion of the businessmen. This price list has made following scientific method.”
“Before publishing notification, we sought opinion from various business groups doing business at Karwan Bazar, Gabtali, and other major parts of the country. So, none can say that we did not take opinions of business people,” he added.
When contacted, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman told the Bangladesh Post, “We are in the field to implement the decision made by the government. Every day we are conducting drives in different markets across the country to check the price spiral of essentials.”