Twelve government bodies are monitoring the daily markets for Ramadan and will take steps in case they notice irregularities.

Reportedly, 35 teams are working on this though general consumers allege that the teams are not performing their duties properly.

The bodies which are keeping an eye on the market include, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution, BSTI, Safe food department, Dhaka South City Corporation, DSCC, Dhaka North City Corporation DNCC, Rapid Action Battalion, RAB, district administration and four intelligence bodies.
DG of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, says: “we are assessing if the right price is being maintained or not and checking the expiration dates.”
Buyers on the other hand allege that the markets are out of control. The main task of the monitoring team of the commerce ministry is to go to the market daily, observe the conditions led by a deputy secretary and then submit reports to the commerce minister and secretary.
BSTI keeps an eye on the quality of the products sold, the price plus expiration dates.
RAB and police operate mobile courts while other teams monitor supply and reserve of products.
Buyers allege that many sellers do not pay any attention to the directives of these bodies.
Though DSCC has fixed Tk. 525 for each kg of beef, the selling price is Tk. 550 or sometimes, Tk. 600, say buyers.
A deputy secretary of the ministry of commerce, adds: “it’s difficult to monitor the open markets, and while retail sellers were asked to retain vouchers of purchasing products from the wholesale markets, hardly anyone follows the order.”
Sellers were also asked to put up price lists in front of their shops which is not being adhered to, says the government official.
One trader in Kawran Bazaar says: “we have put up a price list but many others haven’t and hardly anyone comes to monitor the situation.”
Another shop owner says: “there isn’t any dearth of products in the market; everything is normal.”
Commerce minister, Tipu Munshi, observes: “the markets have enough products and the prices are within the buying capacity of the buyers and there are several government teams on monitoring duty.