Price hike during Ramadan

Recently, I went to a local market to buy some bananas for Iftar, but I was taken aback by the price, which rose by Tk 40-50 per dozen in comparison to last week. There's no valid reason for such a huge price hike. Not just fruits, the price of almost all food items has increased.

Ramadan encourages us to be more patient, humble and kind. But it is during this month that our consumption increases, and traders somehow find ways to charge people extra bucks. For those less fortunate among us, Ramadan seems to be more of an extra burden rather than a month of blessing because of the increase in food prices. Such unethical profit-making practices stand in stark contrast to the spirit of this holy month.

Mohammad Zonaed Emran, By-email