The Chittagong local administration is struggling to check manipulation of the prices of essential commodities during the month of Ramzan.
During meetings held prior to the advent of Ramzan, the local administration and traders repeatedly assured citizens that the prices of essentials would not escalate during the holy month.
The local administration also advised consumers not to buy bulk quantities of essentials, citing ample stocks of commodities, such as edible oil, sugar, rice, grains, lentils and flour. However, many consumers complained that the prices were gradually exceeding their purchasing ability as retailers were arbitrarily fixing prices of essentials.
Several consumers observed that the market scenario changes as soon as the mobile courts arrive in the markets. They demanded raising the number of mobile courts all over the city to keep the prices of essentials under control.
The consumers urged the chambers, consumers’ associations and ministries concerned to maintain effective watch on price manipulation.
“The government needs to enhance its monitoring of the market so that unscrupulous traders cannot manipulate the stocks and dictate the prices,” said Salma Sultana, a teacher of BAF Shaheen College, Chittagong.
On the other hand, the local administration claimed that it has been monitoring the market and taking stern action against errant businesses to control the prices of essentials during Ramzan.
“To ensure safe food, control prices of essentials and crack down on food adulteration, we have been regularly conducting mobile courts in different markets of the city. We have published advertisements in the local dailies and printed 30,000 leaflets. We are also distributing these among the consumers and traders, pointing out the dangerous consequences of food adulteration and describing the punishment for adulterating foods,” said Chittagong deputy commissioner Mesbah Uddin.
“I have myself conducted mobile courts during Ramzan. We saw the price of pepper go down from Tk. 60 to Tk. 20 as a result of our presence,” added Mesbah Uddin. “We are conducting mobile courts regularly. These will continue in the coming days. We are taking action against adulterers of food and those who engage in profiteering. We have also directed the businesses to display price charts,” said Habibul Hasan, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate.
Replying to a query, the executive magistrate admitted that traders tend to display price lists only when mobile courts are present.
“We have received complaints that traders conceal their price charts after the mobile courts leave. It is a herculean task to monitor all markets of the city with the existing manpower of the administration,” said the magistrate, adding that the kitchen market associations could play a significant role in this respect.  
“It is a good initiative and we appreciate the mobile courts, organised by the local administration, for checking price manipulation and food adulteration,” said Abdur Razzaque, president of the Kazir Dewri Kitchen Market Traders’ Association.
“It is true that price charts are not displayed in every kitchen market of the city. The wholesalers of Reazuddin and Chaktai-Khatunganj markets are mostly responsible for the manipulation of prices. To make the initiative a success, the mobile courts should concentrate on the wholesale markets of the city,” Razzaque said.  “Ramzan is a month of sacrifice and purification from greed. Creating any kind of artificial crisis for making a quick buck is an act of utter dishonesty and shows a lack of ethics. We have to regrettably note that the prices of essential commodities go up during Ramzan without any reason,” said SM Nazer Hossain, president (Chittagong division) of the Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh.
“Consumers’ rights, as a concept, are yet to gain ground in the country. However, we appreciate the local administration’s efforts towards monitoring the market,” said Nazer Hossain, adding that they did not notice any initiative by the commerce ministry to monitor the markets.
“We are also active in monitoring the markets so that consumers’ rights are protected. However, our activities are not highlighted in the media. We can only take action if any anomaly is found when the goods are packed. We cannot do anything if the commodities are unpacked,” said Jubayer Ahmed, deputy director, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection.
During Ramzan, the local administration conducted mobile courts in different kitchen and wholesale markets of the city, including Kazir Dewri Bazar, Chawk Bazar, Bepari Para, Reazuddin Bazar, Chaktai, Khatunganj, Asadganj, Madarbari, BRTC and Momin Road. The mobile courts fined the businesses Tk. 44,000 for not displaying price lists, Tk. 1,35,000 for charging exorbitant prices, Tk. 35,000 for selling underweight products, Tk. 15,000 for selling products past the date of expiry, and Tk. 1 lakh for producing and processing food items in unhygienic conditions.