Staff Reporter :
The prices of essential relief items, particularly flattened rice (chira), puffed rice (muri), jaggery, biscuits, and other dry foods, have seen a sharp increase due to the recent floods.
With the rising demand for these relief materials, some unscrupulous traders have taken advantage of the situation by hiking prices.
In response, the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate carried out raids in several markets across Dhaka on Saturday (24 August) to ensure the steady supply of these products and to stabilise prices.
During these operations, several businessmen were fined for raising the prices of these dry food items.
According to sources within the Directorate, market surveillance activities were conducted in Karwan Bazar to maintain stable prices and ensure a normal supply of relief materials.
Abdus Salam, the Assistant Director of the Dhaka Divisional Office of the Directorate, led the operation.
As part of the crackdown, two companies were fined a total of Tk 20,000, with each company being penalised Tk 10,000, during the inspection at Karwan Bazar.
Additionally, a trade organisation involved in selling sugarcane molasses adulterated with sugar, hydrogen, and baking soda was temporarily shut down for its violations.