Food and commerce ministers have warned of stern against anyone trying to destabilise the rice market by taking advantage of the coronavirus outbreak. They also urged people not to resort to panic buying of essentials as the country has an adequate supply and stock of essential commodities. Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and commerce minister Tipu Munshi said this at separate press briefings at the Secretariat yesterday.
“There are adequate stocks in the market. If there is a shortage of food, the goods will be imported to meet the demand. We won’t tolerate any price hike of products in the name of the coronavirus,” Sadhan Chandra Majumder said. He also said there was no reason to panic and urged all to refrain from panic buying. On Tuesday, Dhaka city markets witnessed panic buying of essential commodities, including a hike in rice prices, amid coronavirus fears.
Traders said all superstores and groceries in the city had been experiencing heavy footfalls from Monday. Most of the buyers bought essential commodities like rice, flour, pulses, edible oil, salt, and sugar in large quantities.Many of them also bought bottles of handwash and sanitisers. “If anyone tries to destabilise the market by cashing in on the coronavirus outbreak, the government will not sit quietly. Stern legal action will be taken against dishonest traders,” the food minister warned.
He said the government had adequate stocks of food in public silos amounting to 17.39 lakh tonnes. Besides, the ministry has already written to dealers in the country to sell rice under the open market system, he added. The food minister further said 25 teams were working at the field level to monitor market prices. “New paddy will be harvested within the next 40 days in ‘haor’ areas. So, there will be no problems regarding the food situation,” he added.
Also yesterday, commerce minister Tipu Munshi at another press briefing urged people not to go for panic buying. “We have stocks of essential commodities up by 25–30 per cent now compared to that of the same period last year,” he added. Retail prices of some products went up on Tuesday as people went for panic buying, fearing a supply shortage and price hike as a result of the coronavirus. “We assure everyone that there will be no shortage of essential products. We have enough supplies and stocks,” Munshi said.
The commerce minister also said retailers increased prices when people started buying large volumes at a time. Prices of products have not increased at wholesale markets, he added. It would not be possible to control several lakh retailers across the country. There is no alternative to consumers’ awareness in this regard, he noted. Commerce secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin, additional secretary Obaidul Azam, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection director general Bablu Kumar Saha, and TCB chairman Brig. Gen. Md Jahangir were present at the press briefing.