Ramadan is a glorious month of the Muslim nation. In this month, Almighty Allah revealed the Holy Quran for the guidance of people. Fasting during this month is one of the five pillars of Islam, an obligatory act of worship for every adult Muslim. The main purpose of this month is to surrender to Allah and seek His forgiveness. In this month, Muslims pray to Allah for mercy, forgiveness and forgiveness through fasting, worship and good deeds.
Apart from this, they learn introspection, patience, compassion and self-restraint from Ramadan. It is a special month of change in religious, spiritual and social life. The month of Ramadan is the month of mercy. Before this month of mercy comes, the prices of daily necessities skyrocket. Some unscrupulous traders increase the price of goods several times for more profit. Ordinary people suffer.
During Ramadan, Muslims observe their fast by eating Seheri in the morning and iftar in the evening. During iftar, our favorite foods include dates, gram, chickpeas, lemon sorbot and some other foods fried in oil. Greedy traders eyed these products. Not only these - the price of rice and pulses also increases. Everyone wants to eat healthy food in Seheri. But due to high cost it is not possible for most middle class, lower middle class families.
As a result, many people get sick after fasting all day. If you look at the previous Ramadans, it can be seen that with the arrival of Ramadan, the price of goods increased at a higher rate than usual. This situation creates stress on people. Many times the rise in commodity prices makes it difficult for poor or middle class families to procure food. As a result, it becomes very difficult and difficult for many families to fast and worship. Although the importance of worship in Ramadan is very high, the poor or the middle class are in emotional turmoil during this month due to excessive prices of goods and market volatility.
In this month, there is an additional demand for products in the market for Iftar and Seheri. Due to which the price of the product increases. Ultra-profitable traders also increase the prices of goods by creating artificial crises. Syndicated traders are increasing the prices of daily necessities on various pretexts and endangering the common people. Poor people don't even think about it.
Once the price of a commodity increases, it does not decrease. This has become normal now. It is very desirable to get out of this situation. Otherwise worse situation may come in future. So the government should be careful. To regulate syndicates, small and medium entrepreneurs should be involved in production and supply of products by reforming the laws if necessary.
On the other hand, consumers who are suffering from the LPG crisis are increasing their concern with Ramadan ahead. The LP gas market has been experiencing unprecedented volatility for several weeks. No initiative including reduction of VAT is coming; prices are increasing with time along with the crisis. In various areas of the country including the capital, the suffering of consumers with LPG gas is not reducing. Although one after another initiative has been taken by the government to resolve the crisis, no reflection is seen in reality. Rather, the situation has reached such a level that in many cases companies are not even accepting empty LPG cylinders from retailers.
Meanwhile, on the pretext of LPG crisis, an additional two and a half thousand crore taka is being deducted from the customer's pocket. Fuel cost has doubled in hotels and restaurants due to cylinder anarchy. Other businessmen are also facing the same problem. The cylinder is also not getting properly. Now all is lost, because gas prices have more than doubled.
We all worry about the rise in prices of daily commodities. The government is trying to reduce the price of goods; Still unable to control. Although there is currently no shortage of supply in the country, a section of unscrupulous importers and traders increase the prices of essential commodities to make extra profit around Ramadan. The price of gram, date and soybean oil has already increased before the start of Ramadan due to the increase in the prices of some commodities in the world market.
On the other hand, to keep the supply and supply chain in order, diplomatic initiatives in the import of daily necessities from various countries and clearance of goods at the ports should be expedited. To expand the activities of TCB to increase the scope of selling products at fair price through TCB in the open market, so that low income people get the products. Market Monitoring Management should regularly visit the market to stop selling products at prices higher than the fixed price. Directorate of Consumer Protection should be proactive. Every year when the month of Ramadan comes we see a different picture. In other countries of the world, when the month of Ramadan comes, traders reduce the prices of consumer goods for the sake of humanity. And not only consumer goods in our country,have Traders of other commodities also engaged in the holy month to make profits throughout the year. And ordinary people suffer. This practice should come out. Besides, the market surveillance system should be strengthened on the occasion of Ramadan. There is no good news in the market despite the assurance that the prices of daily commodities will not increase during the holy month of Ramadan.
In fact, before the start of Ramadan, the prices of food products that are required for fasting are increasing. The prices of various vegetables including open sugar, chickpeas, broiler chicken, brinjal, potatoes, lemons have increased within a week. In the holy month of Ramadan, where the prices of daily commodities decrease in most of the countries, the majorities of consumers in Bangladesh suffers and sigh. The prices of such food items which are required during fasting suddenly increase. Due to this, the prices of other daily commodities in the market are also increased. As there is a lot of noise and criticism about the increase in prices during the month of Ramadan, the trend in the last few years is that the prices are increased before Ramadan. This year is no exception.
When the month of Ramadan comes, our country's retail, medium and large businessmen enjoy the festival of cutting the pockets of ordinary consumers. We have to get out of this price hike culture. The good will of businessmen can play a significant role in ensuring a little better living by fixing the prices of daily necessities within the purchasing power of the common people of the country during Ramadan. After all, if extortion is not stopped, the prices of daily necessities cannot be controlled in any way. Most of the consumers cannot distinguish between genuine and fake products and choose the right product.
As a result, they often get into trouble. So extensive awareness activities and a lot of publicity should be done, so that the common citizens know how to buy the right products and protest if they see any injustice. Consumer participation should be increased in any policy-making process related to trade and commerce.So that they can highlight their rights.
The writer is a former Registrar, JSTU
