Govt working to bring prices of essentials in more comfortable level: Salehuddin

Adviser to the interim government on the ministries of Finance, Commerce, Science and Technology Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday said that the government is working to bring down prices of essentials in more comfortable level for consumers.

“The prices of essentials in the market are not at all disappointing. We are working to make the market more comfortable for people,” he said while speaking with reporters after exchanging views with the business community related to the poultry sector at the commerce ministry conference room in the city.

Salehuddin said there are other factors besides the cost of production to reduce the price of essentials. “If the price of any item increases in Bangladesh, it does not want to come down easily, it takes time. We are working in this regard,” he added.

During the meeting, he said they discussed on various issues, including the existing problems and solutions of egg and meat producers, reports BSS.

“There will not be a huge price gap from the producer to the retail stage,” he added.

Responding to a question, he said that the Department of Agricultural Marketing will fix the rational price of products regularly from now on.

“The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and Bangladesh Competition Commission will monitor the market. Producers said they will increase the production. Again there is some mismanagement in marketing which was also discussed,” he added.

Among others, Commerce Secretary Md Selim Uddin, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Sayeed Mahmood Belal Haider and Bangladesh Competition Commission Chairman Pradip Ranjan Chakraborty, among others, were present at the meeting.