Dishonest traders raising prices on different pretexts

A section of dishonest traders have started raising prices of essentials on pretext of budget, pay hike of government employees and the upcoming Ramzan.Traders, of different items including essentials like edible oils, imported machinery and medicines, in the capital have started hoarding of the items which has created an artificial crisis in the market, posing a threat to the people.

While visiting city's different markets, this correspondent found that the traders of essential commodities are charging enhanced price for all most all items on the pretext of budget. The prices of essentials rise every year in the country soon after budget, and thus, this year is also in no exception.Talking to The Bangladesh Today, Kamaruzzaman a grocery trader of Farmgate area said prices of all essentials items have started increasing and it might go beyond means of people during the month of Ramadan.

Soon after national budget and before the month of Ramadan, the prices of essential commodities start increasing every year. The government should find out the reason behind of this and it should also keep close watch on the movement whole sellers. He said the prices of all sorts of edible oils in the market have increased up to Tk 100 per five litre can. Beside, the price of wheat has increased up to Tk 10 per two kg packet and potato price is highly instable in the market.

The recent price hike of essential commodities is the impact of illegal storage of products. For creating a critical situation and artificial crises of daily commodities in the market, a section of dishonest traders along with their associates have started a price hike of essential commodities throughout the country.

If the government is not be able to foil the ongoing plot, people sufferings will increase enormously during Ramadan, a group of businessmen of Kawran Bazar kitchen market told this reporter yesterday.Belal a pharmacy businessman of Farmgate area said people are feeling crisis of some medicine recently which are imported from different foreign countries.

fter budget, price hike of different items in the country is a common trend, so artificial crisis of foreign medicine in the market has already been created to make earn quick profit. Punitive measures should be launched against the quarters, he added.