State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu on Saturday blamed torrential rains and floods in different parts of the country for rising price of green chilli, onion and vegetables.
"On Saturday, green chilli price rose to Tk 400 per kg. Prices of all kinds of vegetables and onion also increased," he said at a press conference at the TCB Auditorium.
Distributing National Export Trophy, he said, 18 districts of the country are under flood waters.
He said," Crops have been submerged leaving an impact on the market. I think it is temporary."
He said, "We are observing what the Ministry of Agriculture is doing, what measures and steps have been taken since flood waters submerged parts of the country. We have a committee in the ministry. We will talk to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Steps will be taken to control the prices quickly."
Titu said, "Businessmen will not be allowed form syndicates by exploiting floods. You know, businessmen were not allowed to form syndicates in last six months."
He said, "Commodity prices have not been increased now by any trade syndicate. There is no uninterrupted supply from outlying areas due to floods."
"Still we will keep surveillance. We are always ready to take tough steps" he said.
