State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said that a complete list of essential products will be fixed with the approval of the Cabinet in Ramadan next year.
The State Minister said this at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and ‘Prodintorg’ of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture for the supply of agricultural products at the Secretariat on Sunday (March 10).
The Minister of State for Commerce said, “I saw that the UAE (United Arab Emirates) has issued a state circular for 18 essential products. No one can increase the price of these products in this month (Ramadan). We may not be able to this time. InshAllah we will improve our supply chain and provide enough supply in the future with the approval of the cabinet and prepare a complete list of essential products. That way we can increase its supply and fix the fixed price of the product.’
You are trying to keep the market at a tolerable level, but it is not having an impact – when asked about this, the state minister said, ‘I sat with those who import and produce the essential products of the fast after taking responsibility. We are sure that imports and production are sufficient.’
Stating that there is no shortage of daily necessities in the market on the occasion of Ramadan, the state minister said, ‘There was an instability in the rice market in the last one and a half months. It is at a stable level by the infinite mercy of Allah. There is no complaint about the price of rice. We have determined the price of oil.
On the occasion of Ramadan, we will increase the market surveillance from today. So that no one sells soybean oil above Tk 163 per litre, open oil at Tk 149 per litre. We will take strict action in this regard. I will try to make sure it doesn’t get disturbed somehow. On the occasion of Ramadan, we will start visiting the market from today.’
Ahsanul Islam said, “Honorable Prime Minister has also given an order and the Home Minister has also given an order if anyone disrupts the supply chain in the market, then strict action will be taken.” We are taking steps. Not that there hasn’t been improvement at all. We got their consent to bring onions from India. InshAllah, onion will also enter Bangladesh in a day or two.’
Claiming that products are available in supershops less than the fixed price, the state minister said, ‘When I went to the raw market, I saw that the price of every item was two-three taka higher than the fixed price. At the very retail level, raw markets are temporary, we have to figure out how to control them now.’
He said, ‘Initially our objective was only one – to ensure supply, there should be no shortfall in supply. By God’s grace we have been able to ensure supply. Inshallah we will increase market monitoring.’
“If the essential commodities provided to one crore families through TCB start fully, this will also reduce the pressure on the market.”
The state minister also said, ‘Insha’Allah, we will try to sit with the Ministry of Agriculture to set a maximum price for agricultural products.’
Ahsanul Islam Titu said, I suddenly heard that the price of lemon has increased. Cucumber price, onion price… But I will say this as an isolated incident in a few places in Dhaka compared to the whole of Bangladesh. It is only in a few places. But this is not the situation all over the country. Sometimes the demand suddenly increases.’
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It will be seen that today or tomorrow everyone will rush to the market and buy 10/20 days supply in one day. If the demand increases, the supply may not come accordingly. That’s why (sudden price increase) can happen.’
He said, ‘I heard a seller this morning saying that fasting comes once a year, we have to do a little with lemons, farmers get a little paisa, we also get two paisa. But that’s the thing. But no big group is working here. He is doing business with a branch, he is thinking that if he gets two rupees more, he will gain two rupees more. He said this very innocently.’
The State Minister of Commerce also said, ‘Businessmen have to do business with a little honesty. We do business by giving priority to religious sentiments.’
Regarding the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Russia, the Minister of State for Commerce said, ‘We are now self-sufficient in rice, but we have not been able to be 100% self-sufficient in wheat, maize and pulses. We have to bring them from different places. The world’s largest source of wheat is Russia. The products they signed today – if they can provide support from the Russian Federation, then we can create a big buffer stock for our food safety and security.’
Stating that TCB is being organized, he said, ‘We are now giving products at subsidized prices to one crore families through TCB. As per Prime Minister’s directive, we will supply multiple products at Fairprice later, if we have such a source.’
“We are actively trying to get an agreement with India as well, not only from Russia, but also to import some essential products. An agreement with Myanmar is in the final stage’ Ahsanul Islam Titu.
RMM/BA/JIM
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