Keep prices of essentials in check during Ramadan

Every year, prior to and during Ramadan, prices of daily essentials go beyond the reach of common people, despite the steps taken by the government to keep them under control. And this year is no exception. As this daily reported yesterday, prices of most of the essential items have increased in the city's kitchen markets and grocery shops as Ramadan begins. While the price of each kilogramme of ginger was between Tk 100 and Tk 160 a month ago, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the same amount was sold at Tk 320-350 at a Jatrabari kitchen market a day before Ramadan. The prices of other necessities such as garlic, onion, lentil, sugar, dry chili, chickpeas, palm and soybean oils have also increased by Tk 5-100 over the past week.

For people who have been struggling to bear their regular family expenses with no or reduced income due to the coronavirus outbreak and the ensuing lockdown, the spiralling prices of the essentials is just too much to bear.

While scarcity of transport could be a key reason for the increase in prices, other reasons include congestions at the Chattogram port and the artificial crisis created by a section of importers and wholesalers. Moreover, panic-buying could have also contributed to the situation.

In order to keep the prices of essentials under control, the government should strongly monitor the large kitchen markets in the country and make sure that there is no artificial crisis created by unscrupulous traders, wholesalers and retailers. Mobile courts can help in this regard by taking action against the hoarders. To solve the transportation problem, the government should ensure trucks for suppliers. Moreover, steps should also be taken for uninterrupted import of products and containers carrying food items at Chittagong port must be cleared quickly. The government should also consider increasing open market sales to give the low-income people some relief.