Has the government failed to control the market?

The government has fixed the maximum retail price on a range of products of some basic food commodities, but it could not be implemented.

Already it is evident that the measure is not having its desired effect.

The consumers have to buy these commodities like potato, onion, egg, loose sugar, soybean and cooking gas at prices 10 to 20 per cent higher than the price set by the government.

Why was such a situation created? It needs to be found out whether there was a wrong policy or lack of strong monitoring and coordination.

According to media reports, several ministers have talked about the market syndicate for the high price of these commodities.

Some of them have expressed helplessness.

Some also warned that there are chances of a crisis if the syndicate is caught.

Even on Friday at an event on ‘Bangladesh Market Day’ Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “If we could see and catch the market syndicate, we could take action”.

But it is the government who should find out who is manipulating the essentials prices.

In fact, the government has not taken any tangible steps in this regard.

It is an unpardonable crime to create an artificial crisis by hoarding commodities.

It is a common practice that whenever the price of a commodity goes up, mobile courts are activated.

Small traders are fined while the big traders remain out of touch.

It is unfortunate that the price of eggs has not decreased despite the government’s steps to allow import.

In this regard, allegations of small farm owners against big companies should be taken into consideration.

Indeed, the traders certainly make profit. But that profit cannot be unbridled.

The big corporate houses must run their business maintaining some rules and regulations.

In the countries where the government’s supply system is strong, the traders in those countries cannot manipulate.

But in our country, the alternative supply system is very weak.

Although the government supplies some items through TCB, the amount of commodities is so little that it has no impact on the market.

The unseen and untouchable syndicate controls the market in different tactics.

Several big companies import food items from abroad and the government has no control on them.

When these business people think that the government is dependent on them, they consider their own interest defying the interest of the people.

Has the government nothing to do to resolve this?