Traders are not obeying the government's instructions on prices as there is laxity in supervision.
To control the market, the government fixed the prices of 29 products, but it has no practical application in the market.
According to Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Titu, the price of daily commodities in the market will come to a reasonable level. For this, Directorate of Agricultural Marketing, Directorate of Consumer Affairs, District Commissioner, Upazila Executive Officer will coordinate together.
It has been seen in different markets of the capital that the government set the price of broiler chicken at the consumer level at Tk 175.30 per kg, but it is being sold at Tk 220-30.
Golden chicken is priced at Tk 262, but is being sold at Tk 310-20 per kg.
The situation is the same in the vegetable market; aubergine is supposed to be sold at the government fixed price of 49 taka 75 paisa, but is selling at taka 50-70. The price of green chillies has been fixed at 60.20 taka, selling at 80-90 taka. Many buyers complain that the government is becoming a hostage to the sellers.
The Agriculture Marketing Department fixed the prices last Friday, but it was seen that the sellers are selling at the previous prices. Most of the items are being sold in the retail market at higher prices than the government fixed prices.
Abdul Majed, General Secretary of Importer and Wholesale Shyambazar Onion Traders Association, told the media on Sunday that if the supply in the market is increased, the consumers will be able to buy the product at the price fixed by the government. Because when the supply of goods in the market increases, the price decreases, and when the supply decreases, the price increases. Now due to increased supply of onion in the market, the wholesale price has decreased by Tk 30 to Tk 35 per kg in a week, he said.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) president Golam Rahman told the media that the government has fixed the price of 29 products, which is a very good thing. Consumers will be relieved if they can buy the product at this rate. But it totally depends on the product supply situation in the market. If the supply is not increased, the consumers will not get the benefit of this fixed rate.
Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdur Rahman inaugurated the sale of mobile products at 25 places in Dhaka from the first day of fasting that is to continue to 28 Ramadan. Beef is sold at Tk 600 per kg, mutton at Tk 900 per kg, dressed (without skin) broiler at Tk 250 per kg, milk at Tk 80 per liter and eggs at Tk 9 per kg. Besides, 650 kg for beef and eight places for cheap fish are in temporary shops in five places in two cities.
Customers coming from far and wide said, 'Yesterday I came around nine thirty in the morning. But there were many people in line. As a result, everything is over before our time comes to buy. That's why I came today at half past seven. This mobile van from Azimpur has brought 110 kg of beef, 15 kg of mutton, 40 kg of dressed broiler (without skin), 1500 eggs and 150 liters of packet milk. Besides, beef is being sold at five permanent locations. The price of beef is kept at Tk 650 per kg.
Everyone is interested in beef and chicken. If these two things are not available, some take mutton.
Customers also take milk and eggs. The holiday season has been bustling with shoppers since its inception. Demanding to get more than one kg of meat, most of the buyers said that everyone wants to buy more meat. Some look up to three kilos. As there is no rule of selling more than one kg, many buyers are seen making requests.
The Department of Livestock Services has set up 20 such new sales points in different parts of the capital as part of efforts to provide lower-income people with options for buying affordable amounts of protein at reasonable prices in the fasting month of Ramadan.