Commodity prices to remain stable in Ramadan
The country has an adequate supply of essential commodities and so, there is no chance of an unusual price hike when the demand for these products balloon during Ramadan, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).
"Tough action will be taken through special drives if there is any attempt to artificially increase prices through unfair means," the DAM said in a press release issued yesterday.
To ensure that prices remain stable in the upcoming month of fasting for Muslims, the DAM, a wing of the agriculture ministry, recently prepared a report on the import, domestic production and demand for six essential commodities.
As per the report, onions should be priced at Tk 40 per kilogramme (kg). The popular cooking ingredient sold for Tk 39 per kg at retail in Dhaka yesterday, the DAM said.
However, the retail price of imported sugar was Tk 2 to Tk 3 higher than the DAM's estimate of rational prices at Tk 70 per kg.
Similarly, the highest retail price of high-quality lentils should be Tk 103 per kg but it was being sold for Tk 105 per kg in Dhaka.
The highest retail price for chickpeas should be Tk 63 to Tk 67 per kg, edible oil Tk 139 per litre, average quality dates Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg and medium quality dates Tk 200 to Tk 250 per kg.
