Govt working for stable supply of Ramadan commodities: Muktadir

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir yesterday said the government is working to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and reasonable prices for consumers during the upcoming Ramadan.

Urging importers and traders to play their roles in ensuring continuous supply and market stability, the minister said the government would not tolerate any attempt by traders to form syndicates and raise the prices of essential commodities during Ramadan.

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He made the comments as the chief guest at a meeting with importers and traders organised by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at its office in the port city.

“There is currently an adequate volume of essential commodities like edible oil, sugar and others in the import pipeline ahead of Ramadan. Therefore, there will be no shortage of essential goods during Ramadan, and supplies will remain normal,” the minister said.

Steps are being taken to rationalise duties on fruits and dates to reduce import costs, while the government would discuss with the authorities lowering interest rates on loans for importing consumer goods and removing obstacles to the transportation and clearance of commodities, he said.

He said efforts are underway to reduce the duty on fruits and make them affordable for ordinary consumers.

A letter has been sent to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) seeking a reduction in the duty on dates, he informed.

Muktadir stressed the need for a planned supply system to ensure the availability of essential commodities, particularly vegetables, at relatively stable prices throughout the year.

At the meeting, businesses from Chattogram raised objections to the 13-tonne weight limit on transporting goods on roads connecting Chattogram with other parts of the country.

They said the restriction was increasing transportation costs, which in turn was driving up the prices of commodities.

CCCI President Mohammad Amirul Haque said businesses are committed to ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities during the upcoming Ramadan.

He also said the Chittagong chamber would hold regular meetings with importers and traders to monitor the supply and prices of key commodities.

The chamber president urged the minister to take steps to withdraw the discriminatory 13-tonne weight limit on transporting goods on highways only from Chattogram and to halt the serial system for allocating lighter vessels to unload import cargo from mother vessels.

These two systems are the main reasons behind rising costs of imported goods, Haque said.

He also called for a review of the system for fixing lighter-vessel freight rates and for greater competition in the sector.

Abdus Salam, president of the Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, said traders are committed to maintaining a normal supply of rice, lentils, chickpeas, wheat, soybean oil, palm oil and sugar this Ramadan, as they did during the previous Ramadan.

He said although some refineries are temporarily closed, the operational ones are working to meet demand.

Former CCCI presidents Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury and Ali Ahmed, Senior Vice-President Md Amzad Hossain Chowdhury, Director Md Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, former Vice-President MA Salam, former Director SM Abu Tayyab and other business leaders spoke.