After the fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 and since the installation of the interim government, a section of people have been campaigning on social media including Facebook that prices of daily commodities has reduced across the country.
Visiting several markets in Dhaka city, this correspondent found no impact of the changeover of the government in the market. Almost all commodities are being sold at similar rates as before.
The syndicate of errant traders could not yet be broken, Rather, they are still active in the market pocketing additional profits.
Anisul Islam, a resident of Segunbagicha, on Thursday went to the market believing in the rumour that price of commodities have lessened but returned disappointed from the market.
Anisul said the list of price do not match with the asking price in the market. There is also an argument among the buyers in the market about this.
It has been claimed that the price of potato is Tk 40, onion Tk 70, beef Tk 650, mutton Tk 850 and the price of broiler chicken has been fixed at Tk 140 per kg.
It was seen in the markets of the capital, the price of all types of rice has increased. Miniket is being sold from Tk 70 to Tk 72, Nazirshail from Tk 70 to Tk 75 and Paijams from Tk 58 to Tk 60, which is Tk 4 to Tk 5 more per kg than before. Coarse rice is being sold from Tk 55 to Tk 58 per kg.
Alamgir, a seller of Bhai Bhai Rice Agency in Khilgaon Bazar, said the price of rice has increased up to Tk 200 per sack in Mokam due to the suspension of transportation during the students movement which has not decreased yet. If the price falls in Mokam, we will also be able to sell in less price.
Abdul Jalil, a seller of Antu-Sentu Rice Agency in Babubazar, said, "20 days ago, I was buying coarse rice at Tk 2,000 a sack. Now it is Tk 2,200. Prices of all types of rice have increased."
On Thursday, in Segunbagicha market per kilogram beef was sold at Tk 750. Though Anisul was planning to buy a kg of beef, he returned after buying half a kg.
He said, "I don't understand who is spreading the price reduction information on Facebook or why? Now I understand that the fall in commodity price is nothing but a rumour."
In the list spread on Facebook, it is claimed that a kg of Mutton has come down to Tk 850. Anis said in reality the price was Tk 1,200 per kg.
Nurul Islam a journalist, posted on his facebook, "I went to the market after hearing that the price of hilsa has decreased, but found the price was higher than before."
The shopkeeper said with a smile, "Many people like you are coming to buy hilsa after hearing that the price has fallen on Facebook. On the contrary the prices have gone up."
The sellers are arguing with the buyers in the market about the price. Buyers looking to buy at advertised prices on Facebook. But the sellers claim that they bought the items from the wholesale market for much more than that.
Sharif Mahmud, a grocer in Tejkunipara area of Tejgaon, said, "The price of essentials have decreased. These are all rumours. In fact, the price has not decreased at all."
After the increase in the supply of vegetables in the market, there has been a slight reduction in prices.
Students are conducting raids in markets across the country, including in the capital, to stop extortion and profiteering.
They are advising sellers not to extort the buyers. "Don't destabilize the market by taking a higher price than the price at which it should be sold," they warn.
Meanwhile, students have started monitoring the market to keep the prices under control. They are monitoring whether the price list of the products is hung in the market, whether the traders are selling the products at a reasonable price, besides the trade licence and cleanliness of the shops.
The work of the students of different colleges and universities is appreciated by the sellers as well as the buyers who come to the market.
AHM Shafikuzzaman, Director General of National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate applauded the market monitoring activities of the students. He said, we have to work together with the students. Now is the time to break the syndicates in the market.
He said, "Several sellers said that every afternoon goons collect about Tk 100 to Tk 200 from each shop. Otherwise, they threatened to demolish their shops. And we have been informed that some leaders of the BNP are doing such activities. The price of goods in the market is not falling because of these extortionists."
AHM Safikuzzaman, who went to Shantinagar market recently to monitor price and supply conditions, said, "The Directorate officials have been instructed to work together with the students. Everyone should be careful that no one asks for hidden charges including extortion."
The prices of various daily commodities have been volatile due to disruption of goods transportation across the country for more than two consecutive weeks due to violence and curfew that started on July 18. Vegetable prices have started to fall slightly as the supply system has been in operation for two days.
A visit to Karwan Bazar and Tejkunipara Bazar shows that the prices of vegetables, eggs and chicken have come slightly down. However, the prices of potato, beef and mutton remain unchanged. Onion price decreased by Tk 10 per kg.
After the volatility subsided, the supply of vegetables increased, prices also decreased slightly.
In Karwan Bazar kitchen market, kakarol and brinjal are sold at Tk 60, tomato at Tk 130, gourd and bitter gourd at Tk 70 to Tk 80, potal and chichinga at Tk 50, cucumber at Tk 80 to Tk 100, green papaya at Tk 30 per kg and gourd at Tk 40 to Tk 50 each depending on its sizes.
On Thursday, chillies fell from Tk 120 to Tk 140 per kg. However, within two days, it increased by Tk 80 to Tk 200 to Tk 220.
Buyer Zikrul Hasan said, "The noise I heard about lowering of the price is wrong. The price of pepper has gone up."
The sellers say that the price increase reduces the business manipulation. Because, if they buy more in wholesale, they sell more in retail, if there is less demand, they also sell less. They are relieved that the customer has returned.
Finance and Planning Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed on Wednesday said that inflation control is on the priority list of the interim government.
He said that instructions have been given to those concerned to work on how to quickly control inflation.
"We have already started focusing on production and supply," said the Adviser. Who to catch, who to stop is not the main thing, now the main task is to reduce the price of goods.
He said it would be possible to reduce the prices of goods overnight, but that may not be the case. But the price will come down for sure. People will get relief soon.
