The government is contemplating the creation of an alternative agricultural market to operate alongside conventional ones, aiming to curb the influence of syndicates, stated Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.
Addressing reporters following the inauguration of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh's (TCB) mobile truck sales programme in Tejgaon, Dhaka on Thursday (24 October) he explained that this new market would allow farmers to sell their produce directly, bypassing syndicates and middlemen.
Asif Mahmud emphasised that prices of essential commodities have been rising due to the activities of syndicates and intermediaries, and the government is working to dismantle these exploitative networks.
Commerce Secretary Mohang Salim Uddin, also present at the event, reaffirmed the government's commitment to take strict action against those who raise prices artificially for excessive profit or create false scarcity.
He added that the government is closely monitoring all stages of the supply chain, including import, production, wholesale, and retail.
In an earlier announcement on Wednesday (23 October), the TCB declared that essential goods such as edible oil, lentils, and rice would be sold to the public at subsidised rates through 50 trucks in Dhaka and 20 in Chattogram. This initiative will continue until 30 November.
Under this programme, each consumer can purchase a maximum of 2 litres of edible oil at Tk100 per litre, 2kg of lentils at Tk60 per kg, and 5kg of rice at Tk30 per kg.
A press release from TCB stated that these operations may be extended if inflationary pressures persist beyond current tolerable levels.
