Sugar, edible oil prices still high
Sugar, edible oil and gram are selling in retail markets of Chittagong at much higher prices than that the government fixed to curb price hike of commodities ahead of Ramadan.
The retailers are blaming the wholesalers for not being able to maintain the government rates.
Frustrated and being the usual victims, consumers here are now calling the government step to check price hike a mockery.
On Wednesday, the government fixed Tk 65 for a kilogram of sugar, Tk 109 for a litre of loose soybean oil and Tk 99 for a litre of loose palm oil for the retail market. The Chittagong district administration on Thursday fixed the wholesale price of moderate quality of gram at Tk 55 while the retail price at Tk 58.
But visits to Khatunganj and Chaktai areas revealed a completely different picture. Retail price of sugar at Karnaphuli CDA Market in Choumuhani, Karnaphuli Complex in Sholoshahar, Reazuddin Bazar and Kazir Dewry Bazar is between Tk 70 and Tk 75 per kg while different kinds of gram are selling at between Tk 65 and Tk 80 a kg.
Meanwhile, supply of soybean oil has drastically declined in the retail market while its price is hovering between Tk 120 and Tk 124 a litre.
Abul Bashar, proprietor of M/s A Bashar Store at Karnaphuli CDA Market, said he bought sugar from Khatunganj wholesale market at Tk 67.50 a kg on Wednesday and the purchase cost rose to Tk 70 a kg with the transport, labour and packaging expense.
Bashar was found selling sugar at Tk 72 a kg.
“How can I sell it at government-fixed rate when I can't even buy it at Tk 65 from the wholesale market,” he complained, adding that he may now have to stop business in the face of discontent from consumers and mobile courts.
The retailers of edible oil and gram spoke of the same reason in defence of the price hike of these two items.
Contacted Deputy Commissioner (DC) Foyez Ahmad said they have already started monitoring the city markets through mobile courts.
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