Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed claims prices of essentials are normal

Prices of essentials are “almost normal” despite the flash floods that stoked inflation at the end of the last fiscal year, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 August 2017, 12:07 PM
Updated : 2 August 2017, 12:07 PM

He made the claim while speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Japanese ambassador at his ministry on Wednesday.

“Our food production suffered a blow from flash floods in the haor areas.”

“It’s also true that people these days have more purchasing power and can afford goods at higher rates,” said the minister.

Right after this statement, the minister received a number of queries from the journalists on different rates found at kitchen markets, groceries and super-shops.

“A product that is available at Tk 10 at Mohammadpur kitchen market may be on sale at Tk 15 at Karwan Bazar. The ministry cannot control that,” he said.

However, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection is active in every divisional district to oversee the matter, he added.

“I feel that everything is under control. If you go to Lavender in Gulshan, where I go usually, you will see that onions are on sale at the old rate.”

The point-to-point inflation rate stood at 6.01 percent at the end of fiscal 2016-17 against 4.9 percent a year ago, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

When asked if prices of essentials may soar, the minister said: “I believe it won’t. Our office has been ordered to keep an eye on the market during the eve of Eid-Ul-Azha.”

One reporter went to claim that prices of sugar rose by Tk 4 a kg just a day after the minister held his meeting with traders before Eid-Ul-Fitr.

The minister brushed off the claim with a laugh.

The reporter further said sugar prices rose by Tk 14 a kg at the mill gates last week.

“I have a grocery store near my house. My driver found prices higher there. Then I took him to Lavender and found same products at Tk 20 less,” Tofail said.