Market regulated under syndicates—I will send this memory away from Bangladesh: Commerce Minister

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Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said, “During the tenure of the current government, the prices of daily necessities will be controlled. A sudden increase in the price of a commodity or market manipulation will be controlled. The market is subject to someone’s manipulation, the market is controlled under a syndicate – this is what I will say, I will bid farewell to this memory from Bangladesh.’

The Minister of Commerce said this in the speech of the chief guest at the opening ceremony of ‘Krishak Hat’ at Tilagarh intersection in Sylhet Nagar on Saturday morning. This haat is organized by the District Administration and Directorate of Agricultural Extension in Sylhet with the aim of ensuring fair price for farmers and providing safe food at affordable prices to consumers by reducing the violence of middlemen.

Launched under the slogan ‘Safe and Fresh Produce Directly from Farmers’, marginal farmers will get an opportunity to sell their produce directly to consumers without any middlemen.

In his opening speech, the Minister of Commerce said, ‘How many new steps are going to be added for market management. Sometimes the prices of agricultural products suddenly rise abnormally. How many initiatives have we taken to keep the market of these agricultural products and essential products that we import stable within the purchasing power of people throughout the year. This (farmer’s hut) is one of them. The main point is that the district and upazila administration of those places in Bangladesh where the agricultural products are grown, will take initiatives. So that the farmers bring their produce to the markets one or two days a week. They will take their products to the places where the local administration will decide according to the demand. It will not add unexpected costs.

The Minister of Commerce said, “We hear from time to time, here and there we have to pay subscriptions, we have to be harassed.” As the matter will be done under the supervision of the administration, there is no scope for unnecessary expenditure. Second, there are multiple layers between the producer and the consumer. Due to which many times there is manipulation in the market. If this layer is eliminated due to farmers market, the farmer will also get better price. Buyers will also get good prices. A “win win situation” for both. And suddenly the price will not increase in the market. The market will act as a counter balance. This is the main purpose.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said that many steps will be taken so that the products dependent on imports including oil and pulses remain stable in the future. He said, ‘One of them is that we will bring the entire supply chain from import to retail into an AI generated model. So that every importer, every wholesaler and every retailer, even a remote market retailer in a remote upazila of Sylhet will be included in the supply chain model.

Commenting that the work of TCB will be strengthened, the Commerce Minister said, “The government still gives subsidy of Tk 3,200 to 3,300 crore annually to TCB. Not for the cost of TCB, it subsidizes the supply of foodgrains to people at low cost. We will gradually reduce the subsidy. But we will increase the scope of work of TCB so that TCB imports more products in the market and acts as a counter balance for a part of the market. We are working with such various steps.

The minister also emphasized on the expansion of irrigation system and re-digging of canals for the development of agriculture sector. At this time, he said that Prime Minister Tarek Rahman will come to inaugurate the excavation of Basia Canal in Sylhet on May 2.

Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet at the opening ceremony. Sylhet’s Divisional Commissioner Khan said under the chairmanship of Sarwar Alam. Reza-un-Nabi, Acting President of Sylhet Metropolitan BNP Rezaul Hasan Qais Lodi, General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, Sylhet Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Khoshnoor Rubaiyat and Sylhet Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Shamsuzzaman spoke. Sylhet Sadar Upazila family planning officer Abul Mansoor Asjad conducted the opening ceremony.

Earlier, the minister visited Sylhet’s farmers’ market. Also want to know the prices of various agricultural products. After the opening ceremony, the minister inaugurated the market by blowing balloons. The organizers said that the activities of this market will be conducted every morning at the designated place. Farmers will sit directly in the market with their produce and buyers will also get a chance to buy fresh produce at a fair price.