Traders blame extortion by law enforcers, goons for price hike

Continuing extortion by a section of law enforcers and musclemen backed by political parties are causing increase in prices of essential commodities ahead of Ramadan, traders alleged in Dhaka on Saturday.
In a discussion on role of businessmen and law enforcement agencies in controlling price spiral during the month of Ramadan, the fasting month for the Muslims, the traders said that wholesalers were not responsible for the price hike of essential commodities like sugar, red lentil, gram and edible oil as four or five importers and refiners were now controlling the supply of the items across the country.
They sought a remedy from the extortion of law enforcers and politically-backed musclemen and harassment by mobile courts and tax officers.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan attended as chief guest the discussion meeting organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
‘The prices of essential commodities are being increased ahead of Ramadan as traders have to satisfy the police and musclemen (by paying extortion money) to avoid harassment,’ said Abu Motaleb, one of the directors of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
There is a strong possibility of further price hike of essential commodities during Ramadan as the government proposed doubling value-added tax on traders in the budget for the next financial year 2016-17, he said.
‘The finance minister has proposed to extend package VAT system for the next financial year but it was a juggler with figures and the minister will be responsible for the price hike,’ Motaleb said.
Ruling out the allegation of unethical business practice Motaleb claimed that 99 per cent traders in Bangladesh were honest and the rest was dishonest and were enjoying government’s shelter.
He also said that drives by mobile court and customs officers got visible for only one month during Ramadan and they remain almost idle during the rest 11 months.
During Ramadan the police and BSTI officials start drive on seasonal traders to gain illegal money, Motaleb alleged.
‘A quarter always tries to brand traders as dishonest but keeps mum for bringing the culprit to book who are responsible for embezzlement of crores of taka from share market and state-owned banks,’ he said.
Md Golam Mawla, president of Bangladesh Paikary Vojjya Tel Babosayee Samity, said the government needed to have alternative arrangement to intervene in the commodity market as the supply of edible oil and sugar completely depended on a few refiners.
To ensure supply from the mills he suggested that the government needed to sit with the refiners. ‘Please, don’t blame the wholesalers; the mill owners decrease the supply in the name of mechanical faults in the factories,’ he said.
‘If the refiners fail to make available supply of sugar we have nothing to do as 90 per cent demand of the item is met by three or four mills through import,’ Abul Hashem, a sugar trader, said.
After having delivery orders from millers, the wholesalers have to wait for 8-10 days for a truck of sugar, he said.
Ziaur Rahman, a Dhaka University professor, said in Bangladesh traders increased the prices of essential commodities due to deviation from ethics of business.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the government was working to ensure smooth supply chain and security of people during Ramadan.
‘We have zero tolerance about extortion and now such crimes have decreased than in the previous time,’ he said.
Intelligence teams remain active and the culprits who are involved with extortion will be brought to book, the minister said.
About the extortion by police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia said that they would take stern action against police member if the businesses lodge specific complaint any member.
Detectives are in the field and monitoring the extortion situation, he said.
The DMP would ensure three phases of security measures in the city during Ramadan.
He said the DMP had established several control rooms almost at all vulnerable points, market and important points of the Dhaka city ahead of Ramadan.
DCCI president Hossain Khaled called upon the police to ensure security for the businessmen while carrying large amount of money especially during Ramadan.
He also said that Trading Corporation of Bangladesh could use e-commerce system to sell their products smoothly and cover maximum customers.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net