As the Coronavirus outbreak is gripping fears among us, one common worry is: Will the prices of essentials go up? We are told that there will be no food crisis due to corona, as the country has adequate food stock. Reporedly, at least 25-30 percent more essentials are stored compared to the previous years in the country.
In this circumstance, it is saddening to note that a vested quarter is spreading rumors that there are possibilities of scarcity of essentials in kitchen markets as commodity trading literally comes to a stand-still due to the pandemic coronavirus outbreak.
Spreading such rumours, they have already increased prices of rice, meat, pulses, dry chili, ginger, turmeric, flour, powder milk, cooking oil and other essentials.
The government has to intensify its market vigilance
and the monitoring process should be equipped with
adequate manpower and resources
It is said that consumers in Bangladesh are no longer helpless victims of the service providers. But in reality, it is just the opposite. We have the consumer rights protection law-2009 and we now can file complaints against the treacherous service providers. But we cannot do anything when the prices of daily essentials rise without any profound reason but only due to the greed of the unscrupulous middlemen.
We are told that stern actions will be taken against those who will be involved in hiking price of essentials and spreading rumors centering the Covid-19 outbreak. In this regard, the government has to intensify its market vigilance and the monitoring process should be equipped with adequate manpower and resources.
For now, consumers can hope that the steps taken by the government will be effective and able to stabilise the market that seems to be going out of control during the corona-crisis. We hope those who want to exploit public concerns during crisis times, will be brought to book. It is time to take harsher stand against the unscrupulous traders.
