Arresting price hike
PHOTO: AMIRUL RAJIV
Yesterday, while talking with our apartment manager in Dhaka over the phone, I asked him about the cost of living in Dhaka at the moment. I was rather shocked to learn that a Hilsha fish weighing about a kg or so sells at a price for Tk.1,000.00 - 1,500.00. If this is true, then is it possible for any Bangladeshi to have a Hilsha fish in months while the per capita income is less than Tk. 1,000.00? He further told a rickshaw ride from Kalabagan to Farmgate would cost a person Tk. 25.00 - Tk.30.00 which used to be Tk.12.00 - Tk.15.00 only a year ago, while I was in town. Well, how do the people afford to manage their lives, with the given per capita income and without having access to Aladdin's magic lamp? Since hanging up the phone, I have been thinking how to arrest this unrealistic price hike, for which traders are responsible. This is depriving the poor farmers, fishermen and others engaged in ensuring the food supply for millions of people of the country. Not very long ago, the then president General Ershad introduced the concept of a meatless day in a week to minimise the pressure on the protein sources, thereby ensuring stability of price of meat products. One must admit, it has been a very good initiative. Taking a cue from his meatless day, we can perhaps adopt a policy of a fish-less day, beef-less day, chicken-less day, mutton-less day and egg-less day, which would ensure abundant supply of the produce and stability of the price. It is common knowledge that the price of a commodity is determined by its demand and supply ratio. If the supply of a commodity is inadequate, the price goes up; on the other hand, an abundant supply of the commodity ensures a fair price. Adopting of a policy of a fish-less day, beef-less day, mutton-less day, chicken-less day and egg-less day would ensure adequate supply of those commodities thereby ensuring the stability of price of the daily essentials.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments