We are appalled with the recent revelation by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) that commission agents, or aratdars, are manipulating vegetable prices to artificially inflate the market.
This distortion of the market dynamics, done in collusion with wholesalers, dealers, and retailers, has left consumers grappling with soaring prices for essential commodities, including vegetables.
Despite government initiatives to stabilize the market, such as the formation of a special task force, the grip of middlemen continues to wreak havoc on the affordability of basic goods.
The DNCRP’s market surveillance efforts are commendable, as they have shed light on an intricate web of intermediaries that significantly mark up prices before the goods even reach the wholesale market.
The fact that vegetables pass through at least 6 to 7 intermediaries is a glaring indicator of the inefficiencies in the supply chain.
Furthermore, with over 1,200 unregistered traders operating in Karwanbazar alone, the scale of illegal trading is immense.
These traders, who lack proper documentation and accountability, play a crucial role in inflating prices, ultimately hurting ordinary citizens.
The operations carried out in Dhaka’s Karwanbazar and Banani Kitchen Market exposed more troubling practices.
Traders allotted spaces by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have been subletting their shops for exorbitant amounts, contributing to the price spiral in the retail market.
Fining these traders, as the DNCRP has done, is an essential step, but it does not tackle the root of the problem.
Going forward, the DNCRP’s efforts must be sustained and expanded. The government should consider introducing measures to regulate middlemen, streamline supply chains, and bring unregistered traders into the fold of formal commerce.
Strengthening collaboration between DNCRP and other regulatory bodies, as well as empowering consumers through better information and protection mechanisms, could lead to lasting change.
If left unchecked, the current price manipulation threatens to exacerbate inequality and erode public trust in market systems.
Not only that, but there is also a question of confidence regarding the interim regime’s ability to tackle market manipulation.
Therefore, one of the government’s top priorities should be to control the unchecked rise in the prices of essential goods, which is severely affecting the public.
For now, consumers remain hopeful that the government will intensify its efforts to safeguard their rights and ensure fair pricing across all essential goods.
The need for stronger enforcement and stricter regulations regarding market operations is clearer than ever.