‘I don’t buy any fruit from market fearing formalin’
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed on Monday said there was no reason for price hike of essential commodities in the coming months, particularly during Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims, as the country had sufficient stock of the items.
‘Businessmen and importers of essentials items have also assured us that they would keep the price of products within the purchasing capacity of mass people not only during Ramadan but also throughout the year,’ he told reporters after a meeting with importers and businessmen on price situation at the secretariat.
He said that the country had more demand for the items including pulse, gram, sugar and edible oil than what was estimated.
He also promised to take effective measures to keep the prices of essentials under control during Ramadan and said that the government would rein in the market at any cost.
‘Demands from common people of the country are very moderate. So we have urged the businessmen to ensure fair price of essential commodities for them during Ramandan,’ he said.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh will also remain alert to prevent any artificial crisis in the market during the month, Tofail said.
The commerce minister also directed law enforcing agencies to make sure uninterrupted supply of products.
At the meeting, he said that the proposed Formalin Control Act would be passed in parliament to protect consumers from harmful impact of formalin being used in food items including fish and fruits.
Under the act, people involved in mixing formalin in food items will be tried under summery trial, he said.
Businessmen demanded that the government should rationalise the payment system of value-added tax during import and trade stages.
Commerce ministry senior secretary Mahbub Ahmed and chairmen of different big business groups attended the meeting, among others.
At the meeting, Tofail also said that he stopped buying fruits from the market being feared about contamination of formalin in the item.
‘I do not buy fruits from the market and have asked my family members for not to buy fearing formalin contamination. I eat those which come in baskets from the orchards,’ he said.
Businessmen alleged that the formalin testing kits themselves have flaws that bring different results in laboratories.
They also urged the government to stop importers importing the chemicals used to ripen mangoes.
-With New Age input
