Ramadan market
Highway extortion by police pushing up prices
Allege business people at DCCI seminar
Extortion on the highways from goods laden vehicles by toll collectors and members of the law enforcing agencies has increased ahead of Ramadan, causing rise
in commodity prices, businessmen people alleged.
Members of the law enforcing agencies increase the extortion ahead of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitre, they said at a discussion meeting organised by Dhaka Chambers of Commerce and Industry on price hike of commodities.
‘The police cause undue trouble for the goods laden trucks which is a major problem to us as it pushes up the carrying cost,’ said Begum Bazar Moulvi Bazar Merchants Association president MA Razzak.
He also said in many cases the mobile courts also harass the businessmen without knowing the facts.
‘These things need to be addressed. If government can ensure safety of the goods during transport then there is no reason for the price hike of commodities in the Ramadan,’ he said.
Bangladesh Edible Oil Wholesalers Association joint secretary Abul Hashem said the price of edible oil is in downtrend in the international market at this moment.
‘As it is an import-based product, we hope that the price will remain low during the Ramadan if we can supply properly. But heavy traffic congestion during Ramadan made it difficult for us to supply as the roads of old part of the city are very narrow,’ he said.
He also said if supply does not reach the destination in time then there will be shortage and the price will shot up automatically.
Bangladesh Super Market Owners Association general secretary Zakir Hossain claimed that the supermarkets always kept the price of essential commodities stable during Ramadan.
‘We set 12 items as necessary commodities which we sell at a fixed price from the first day of Ramadan till the end,’ he said.
He urged the law enforcing agencies to do their duties properly.
‘Traffic jam and extortion are a very serious problem which needs to be taken care of,’ he said.
DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed said police were trying their best to solve the problems mentioned by the business people.
‘Ramadan and Eid are very significant events for us as transaction of products and goods worth around Tk 35,000 crore takes place during the period,’ he said.
He said the traffic police were given orders not to stop any vehicle without having any enforceable offence.
‘We have two times more vehicles in the city compared to the road capacity which is the main reason for traffic congestion. This problem cannot be solved overnight but we are using our limited resources to meet the crisis,’ he said.
‘If you have specific allegations of extortion by the policemen please inform us so that we can take action. Last year, we sent 13 of our men to jail for different of fences and we are very strict about it,’ he said.
DCCI Foundation chairman Anwar Hossain said the businessmen are committed to keep the commodities market stable in the Ramadan.
‘I urge to my businessmen friends for not considering only profit during the holy month of Ramadan. We also have some social responsibility and I hope as we promised to keep the market stable we will prove it with action,’ he said.
DCCI acting president Nessar Maksud Khan said there were so many reasons for the price hike of essentials during the Ramadan.
Increased transportation cost, tendency to make extra profit by the middle-men, lack of information regarding food stock, mismanagement in goods preservation and distribution, lack of market management and monitoring are some of the main reasons for price spiral of essentials during Ramadan, he said.
He also urged for preventing extortion during highway transportation and ensuring proper distribution system.
DCCI former president Hossain Khaled and director Khairul Majid Mahmud, Rizwan-ur Rahman and Abul Hossain were also present at the meeting.
-With New Age input
