Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Sunday | 12 January 2025 | Epaper

BD weighs commercial, not political ties with countries

Commerce Adviser says while opening sale of potatoes

Published : Thursday, 21 November, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 265
Business Correspondent
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has said balancing supply and demand in the county needs liberal policy in global trade and for that India, Pakistan or China is not an issue, we want trade link with all countries.

He said, 'business syndicate in local market is a problem and now trade syndication by trading partner is also a problem. He said our relation with those countries is commercial, not political.' 

He made the observation after inaugurating the sale of potatoes and other products of TCB (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh) at Karwan Bazar in the city on Wednesday.

Asked by reporters whether there is any commercial tension with India in the current political context, he replied in the negative. He said various products including rice, potatoes, eggs are being imported regularly from India, he said
He said, "The inflation or higher price of daily necessities can be largely resolved by improving the supply side. We are working day and night to improve it. We are regularly holding meetings with those involved in production, import and storage of products. 

"We are working to ensure adequate stock, especially in the wake of upcoming month of Ramadan. Everyone involved is quite sensitive about keeping the supply and prices stable. The Department of Protection of Consumer Rights has also increased monitoring activities."

The Commerce Advisor said some short-term and long-term steps have been taken to reduce inflation. After the price increase, we started selling potatoes at affordable prices through TCB. In addition, approval has been given to import potatoes. 

These are immediate steps. On the other hand, with the cooperation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), import duties on dates, sugar, soybean oil, eggs and some other products have been significantly reduced. This will result in huge revenue loss to the state. But accepting this, duties have been reduced only to stabilize the prices in the market.

Sheikh Bashiruddin said, 'We are aware of the suffering of the common people from higher prices of goods. However, we are making every effort to reduce prices. As a result consumers have already started feeling its impact. We hope if the supply of goods in the market further increased, the prices will stabilize soon.'

In response to a question whether or not he will be strict against syndicates in the market, the Advisor said, "A handful of people may be involved in running syndicate.  In that case the answer is only one --to remove various obstacles in trade and involve more people in such businesses. It would make more competition, he said.

TCB has started selling edible oil and lentils at subsidized prices among one crore low-income beneficiary card-holding families. In addition, TCB products such as oil, pulses and rice supplied by Food Department are being sold at subsidized prices to common people. Trucks carrying such goods are selling at 50 locations in Dhaka and 20 locations in Chittagong.



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