CHATTOGRAM, Jan 15: Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Omar Faruk and Executive Magistrate Prateek Dutta held mobile court at Pahartali rice market in the port city on Monday and imposed Tk 10,000 in fine on a wholesaler for not having trade licence.
Several wholesalers were warned against irregularities, said Omar Faruk.
The action was taken in the wake of hiking rice price by retailers and wholesalers in the peak season of the staple having abundant stocks and supplies, he said.
In the wholesale market, the price of 50 kg of rice in sack has been increased from Tk 150 to Tk 200.
Rice millers and traders have been accused of creating an artificial crisis in the citys rice market to increase price.
Faruk said, "We conducted the mobile court on information that an artificial crisis had been created by hoarding paddy and rice by licenced and un licenced traders.
He said that vigilance had been increased against the hoarders.
