CAB for crackdown against syndicates in Kishoreganj
Sr Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded that the government take immediate and exemplary legal action to stop the activities of syndicates and hoarders in the country’s daily necessities – LPG, sugar, and edible oil.
CAB, Kishoreganj district committee President Alam Sarowar Tito, Executive President advocate Maya Bhowmick and General Secretary Monowar Hossein Rony were made in a joint statement sent on Saturday.
It said that in recent times, the unreasonable increase in the prices of LPG, Sugar and edible oil in the domestic market has created frustration, anxiety and anger among the general consumers.
According to reports published in various media outlets, some influential circles are controlling the sugar market by creating artificial crises in production and supply at the import and mill levels. Similarly, there are allegations of unreasonable increase in prices in the LPG, soybean and palm oil markets.
Sugar prices, which were relatively stable even a week ago, have suddenly increased by Tk 10 per kg in the retail market. Imports of white sugar have been practically stopped and an artificial crisis has been created on the pretext of shortage of supply at the mill level.
Traders have adopted the strategy of increasing prices like every year in view of Ramadan and other festivals.
In the case of LPG, prices are being charged higher than the fixed price, where there is a risk of manipulation by importers and distributors.
The CAB also made 7 demands to the government. The demands are: Take exemplary legal action by verifying the actual information on sugar production, storage and supply at the mill level and identifying syndicates and hoarders.
Strict surveillance to stop the activities of syndicates and hoarders in the sugar and edible oil markets.
In the case of edible oil, ensure reasonable alignment between international market prices, import costs and local market prices.
Strengthen administrative intervention to reduce unreasonable price gaps in the wholesale and retail markets.
Ensure effective coordination between the district administration, consumer affairs department, and law enforcement authorities to ensure that LPG is sold at the price set by the government.
Strengthen supervision of LPG importers and distributors over their storage, supply, and retail sales.
Top-level government directives are needed to ensure that market supervision of daily necessities is not delayed due to election or other pretexts.