Economy Desk: The prices of toiletries are increasing silently. On the pretext of the global crisis, the prices of all types of toiletries, including soap, toothpaste, powder, detergent, and shampoo, are increasing by leaps and bounds without any announcement. According to the market research, the manufacturers have increased the prices of almost all types of toiletries from Tk 10 to Tk 150 in a span of 6 months. Besides, the prices of packaged chips, chana curries, and biscuits have also increased excessively. In particular, the quantity in the packet has been reduced without increasing the price of any product. None of the concerned manufacturing and marketing companies have announced any price increases. However, no government initiative is visible to control these misdeeds. Analysts say that this profit cycle cannot be stopped unless proper action is taken against the related syndicates and the market is more closely monitored.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to expand the list of essential commodities under the “Essential Commodities Control Act” to provide relief to consumers. According to the sources of the Ministry of Commerce, the new list will include drinking water, rice, flour, poultry, milk, eggs, soap, detergent powder, toothpaste, potatoes, wheat, rice, black cumin, chickpeas, mudri, and liquid pesticides. On the other hand, cigarettes, cloves, bay leaves, cardamom, and cinnamon can be excluded from the list.
It has been found out in various wholesale and retail markets of the capital that the prices of cosmetics and toiletries are constantly increasing due to various excuses. Many companies have reduced the size of the packaging while keeping the price unchanged. The abnormal increase in the prices of these daily use products is causing problems for ordinary people on fixed income.
While manufacturers have given excuses to increase production costs, analysts say it is a lame argument. According to them, the excessive profit tendency of traders is working behind the extent of the price increase. Speaking with retailers, many companies have reduced their product packaging to accommodate price adjustments. Although some manufacturers claim that the product’s production costs are rising by the day, these tasks must be completed.
According to market analysts, some producers can raise prices arbitrarily due to market monopolies.They completely dominate the market for certain products. If one company increases the price of its product, others will follow suit and increase the price of the same product. The competition that should take place in increasing the quality of the product is in increasing the price.There is no evidence that the price has increased, but the quality of the product has. Within six months, a product of the same quality is selling for nearly twice the price.There is no answer as to why the price has increased. The government has no control over the market for these products.
Prices of toiletries have increased: The prices of all types of toiletries used in daily life, including soap, toothpaste, and laundry detergent, have increased. In the last six months, manufacturers have raised the prices of almost all types of toiletries from Tk 10 to Tk 150.
According to market retailers, the price of 100 grams of Lux soap has increased from Tk 65 to Tk 85. The price of Lifebuoy 100-gram soap has increased from Tk 32 to Tk 50. The customer now has to pay 60 taka to buy 75 grams of Dettol soap, priced at 42 taka. To buy 125 grams of the same soap, the customer has to pay 80 taka, which was 62 taka earlier. The prices of Chhota Meryl, Kaya, Lux, and Dettol soaps have increased from Tk 40 to Tk 60. ACI Savlon 100-gram soap was priced at Tk 45, but now it is selling at Tk 60. Lifebuoy Handwash 175-gram refill has increased from Tk 65 to Tk 75. The price of bottled Lifebuoy Handwash has risen from Tk 85 to Tk 105.And the price of Dettol handwash has increased from Tk 70 to Tk 75.
The prices of all types of detergents have increased. The price of wheel-cloth glass soap has increased from Tk 18 to Tk 30. The wheel detergent price of Tk 130 is now Tk 165. And the price of wheel rinse powder, which was Tk 150, has increased to Tk 210. The price of 300 grams of Silk shampoo has been increased to Tk 400. On the other hand, Dove shampoo has increased from Tk 320 to Tk 450. And the price of all minipack shampoos priced at TK 3 has been increased to TK 4. Tk 150 is the price of 500 grams of Vimba liquid. The customer has to pay Tk 150 to buy Harpic 750 ml, which was Tk 120 earlier. Among the toothpastes, the buyer has to spend 160 taka to buy a tube of 200 grams of Pepsodent, which was 130 taka earlier. 100 grams of Pepsodent used to cost Tk 75, but now it costs Tk 100. The price of Tk 90 close-up toothpaste has increased to Tk 150, and the price of Tk 130 sensitive toothpaste has increased to Tk 170. Now the buyer has to pay 90 taka to buy Square’s 75 taka baby brush.
According to the data of the Importers Association of Bangladesh Cosmetics and Toiletries, cosmetic products worth Tk 4000 crore are sold in the country’s market. And the cosmetics of famous international brands almost all have to be imported from outside the country, at a very high price. On this occasion, cosmetic traders make fake cosmetics. However, buying cosmetics from reputable companies is less risky. But because they have to buy from them in cash, some superstores buy these products from other sources. At this opportunity, fake products are also entering the supermarket. Again, fake products are being made in counterfeit factories by collecting raw materials for making fake cosmetics from some chemical shops in Mitford. Various brands of fake cosmetics are being sold on the market these days. At various times, the law enforcement forces conducted raids and fined the establishments selling such adulterated cosmetics. But nothing works.
Who raises the price! : Representatives from various domestic supermarket chains claim that they do not raise the price of their products; rather, they sell at the price set by the manufacturer and supplier.Supermarkets, in collusion with companies, are increasing the price of packaged goods—this is not right. They claim that the producers increase the price of the product. However, the manufacturer says that they do not set the price. It is fixed by the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission of the government. The responsibility lies with the government.
They said that the cost of production and supply of imported goods is high. That is why the prices of products are increasing. However, if all parties work in coordination, it is possible to reduce the price of products at the consumer level.
Actions by the regulatory body: In September last year, the Competition Commission filed several cases against various individuals and institutions alleging abnormal price hikes in the market. The organization says that the accused persons and institutions have violated Sections 15 and 16 of the Competition Commission Act. And the hearing of this case by the commission is still ongoing.
Regarding the current status of the cases, the new chairman of the Competition Commission, Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, said that field-level verification is underway. If there is any discrepancy in the report, we will take action as per the law. Meanwhile, in September last year, the National Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection said that, in view of the increase in the prices of all kinds of products, including soap, detergent, and toothpaste, they would check the production cost and rationality of the retail price. However, the company has not announced any decision in this regard so far.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) president Golam Rahman said that compared to last year, the price of all kinds of products is higher this year. There is a tendency for traders to make excessive profits. By holding the customer hostage, they have started looting huge profits. He said that the suffering of low-income people has increased due to the increase in the price of daily necessities.
Government initiative: In recent times, the prices of various types of liquid pesticides, including soap, detergent, and toothpaste, have increased a lot. The government is also seeking to increase its control over the long-unregulated market. In such a situation, the government wants to expand the list of essential commodities under the six-decade-old “Essential Commodities Control Act” to provide relief to consumers.
This initiative is being taken after efforts to modernize this law did not make the expected progress. According to sources in the Ministry of Commerce, the new list will include various products including drinking water, rice, flour, poultry, milk, eggs, soap, detergent powder, toothpaste, potato, wheat, rice, black cumin, gram, flour, and liquid pesticides. On the other hand, cigarettes, cloves, bay leaves, cardamom, and cinnamon can be excluded from the list. According to the law, the government can take steps to control the prices of essential commodities and take action against those who manipulate the market and increase the prices.
According to sources in the Ministry of Commerce, a committee was formed to amend the Act about a year ago, but the work did not proceed as planned. However, the list of essential products covered by this law is being revised. The Essential Commodities Control Act was enacted in 1956. Under this, the government has the power to control the production, marketing, and price of various essential commodities. The purpose of this law is to ensure that all categories of consumers, including low-income people, can buy these products at a fair price. To enforce this law, the government can take legal action against those involved in market manipulation, hoarding, and the black market by setting up special mobile courts.
The concerned officials of the Ministry of Commerce said that the big corporate organizations are marketing these essential products by determining the maximum retail price (MRP) as per their wishes. Due to legal restrictions, neither the Ministry of Commerce nor the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection can take any action in this regard as it is sold at the MRP rate.
