650 rupees per kg of beef, demand for pricing

Beef prices have risen sharply in the wake of the corona virus. It is being sold somewhere at Rs 750 per kg. Helpless consumers at unbridled prices. The Kansas Consumers Society (CCS), a consumer rights group, has called for effective action.

The organization has demanded from the City Corporation and the Ministry of Commerce to fix and implement maximum prices of essential commodities including beef till the next Eid on the occasion of the upcoming Eid, the ongoing crisis of Kovid-19.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday (April 27th), CCS executive director Palash Mahmud claimed that the highest price of beef is fixed in the capital every year on the occasion of Ramadan. Although this rule has been in place for the last 45 years, it has not been done this time.

As a result, the price of beef has exceeded Rs 600 per kg. Somewhere 750 rupees is being sold. Due to the high price, beef has now become a luxury food. If maximum pricing and effective measures are not taken in a short period of time, there is a risk of further increase in prices before Eid.

Palash Mahmud said the price of rice, which was Tk 1,900 a sack (50 kg) in different parts of the country a month ago, is now Tk 2,500. The price of ginger sold at 100 rupees per kg is now more than 300 rupees. In the last one and a half months, the prices of all kinds of daily commodities starting from rice, pulses, oil, sugar, milk, onion, ginger, garlic, chilli, turmeric have gone up. The prices of some products have also increased 2 to 3 times. Although the liquid milk produced by farmers across the country remained unsold, the price of pasteurized milk has gone up. The matter is absolutely inconsistent.

CCS says millions of people have lost their jobs in the wake of the Covid-19. Workers, day laborers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers and other daily income earners have stopped earning. About 60 million poor and middle class people are in misery. These helpless people are struggling to support their families. In this situation, the increase in the price of daily commodities is very inhumane.

It is the responsibility of the government to fix the maximum price of daily necessities so that people can buy the necessary products at affordable prices. Especially on the occasion of the upcoming Eid, measures have to be taken before the market goes out of control.

The executive director of CCS said that just as it is important to treat Kovid-19 infected people, it is also important to keep people at home to protect the nation from this epidemic.

As a result of staying at home, on the one hand, the income has stopped and on the other hand, the price of goods is also increasing. Such a rise in commodity prices is creating a situation of consumer confidence.

Although it was necessary to take further action in this regard, it was not taken. Therefore, I demand to take action in a timely manner even if it is late.