Coronavirus panic has triggered buying of extra consumer goods. Although merchants said there are enough supplies of essentials.

Market insiders said a number of people are buying more consumer goods than they need. Buyers are stockpiling these items fearing major outbreak of coronavirus and possible lockdown of the capital.

This has left lower income people scared, as they are unable to buy a large amount of consumer goods.

Merchants of kitchen and essential goods markets in the capital gave the assurance that if people buy sensibly, there would be no shortage.

Talking to The Independent, a consumer at Karwan Bazar in the capital said: “I bought 36 soap bars, 15 kg of sugar, 15 kg of pulses and other essentials - all in excess of what I normally need. Some of my relatives live in Italy. We heard about their difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak. We hope that this will not happen in our country. Nonetheless, we are stockpiling amid fear of a lockdown.”

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has urged the people not to resort to panic buying, as the country has adequate supply and stocks of essential commodities. But a number of buyers are not willing to see reason.

Kamrul Hasan Ratan, proprietor of M/s Kamala Traders, a grocery shop in Karwan Bazar, said: “We are trying to follow the advise of the commerce and food ministers. But it has become difficult to convince buyers. There is adequate supply and stocks of all essentials. But if the trend of panic buying continues, there will be a shortage of essentials soon, which will lead to price hike. A customer demands 20-30 kg of sugar, 15-25 kg of pulses, 20 litres of soybean oil, 30-40 kg of salt, which are undoubtedly much more than his/her needs. This panic buying will harm the lower income people.”

Robiul Alam was buying essentials from the Agora Super Shop Farmgate outlet. Asked why he was buying more goods than his requirement, he said: “We are terrified due to the outbreak, recent death case, and gradual increase in coronavirus cases in the country. We fear possible lockdown of the capital. In the situation of pandemic, anything can happen. So, I'm stockpiling essentials for coming days.”

Rezaul Karim, a salesperson of Agora Farmgate outlet, said: “People are buying items like rice, atta, pulses, salt, oil, sugar, spices in excessive amounts.  We are trying to restrain them from panic-buying. We are telling them if they didn’t need an item in the next two weeks, to leave it for someone who does.”

Market insiders say hoarding and stockpiling will create an unnecessary situation in which someone needing a product would not find it on the grocer's shelves.