Dhaka Bureau: Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP has said that necessary steps have been taken to keep the stock, supply and prices of seven essential commodities normal in view of the holy month of Ramadan. In the light of the experience of the past years, necessary measures have been taken regarding the daily necessities like edible oil, sugar, lentil, gram, onion, dates, rice and wheat as per the demand. In the current global situation there are some problems in opening LC for import of import dependent products. The Ministry of Commerce is working on the matter as a priority. The commerce minister said that traders have proposed to keep a certain amount of dollars to facilitate the opening of LCs for the import of daily necessities. Many traders have demanded withdrawal of taxes and VAT on sugar. The government will take the right decision regarding the issues for the benefit of the people of the country. The Government of India has been informed not to stop the export of products which we import from the neighboring country India suddenly without prior notification. In addition, the Indian government has assured the supply of daily necessities according to the needs of Bangladesh. Considering all aspects, it can be said that in the coming days there will be no shortage of any of our daily necessities, the price will remain normal. Market operations will be intensified to keep the situation normal. There is no need to buy large quantities of products at once before the start of next Ramadan. The country’s media can play an important role in creating public awareness in this regard.
The Minister of Commerce said these things while attending the 5th meeting of the Task Force Committee on Review of Commodity Prices and Market Situation organized by the Ministry of Commerce at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka today (January 04, 2023).
In the meeting presided over by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Private Industry and Investment, Salman Fazlur Rahman said that the government has taken all kinds of steps to ensure normal prices and daily necessities of the people of the country. Care must be taken in determining the correct price of the product. To ensure fair pricing. The government is aware of the whole matter, the government will provide all kinds of cooperation including opening of LC for the import of daily necessities. All businessmen must do business with integrity.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission Chairman Mahfuza Akhtar, Bangladesh Competition Commission Chairperson Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, Bangladesh Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) Chairman, Brigadier General Md. Ariful Hasan, Director General of National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate AHM Safikuzzaman, Khandkar Nazmul Haque of National Board of Revenue, Director (Foreign Exchange Operations) of Bangladesh Bank. Abdul Haque, First Vice President of FBCCI Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, representative of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Kazi Md. Abdul Hannan, senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce, representatives of various ministries and departments including DGFI, NSI, Amitabh Chakraborty, advisor of City Group, director of TK Group. Safiq Alam Taslim was present.
