The New Nation - Internet Edition

A.T.M.Nurun Nabi

The beef price went up by taka 10 per kilo on the day before Eid ul Azha while the fish supply was inadequate at Khilgaon Taltala Market. And the mutton was selling at taka 250 per kilo, and the fowl (farm) at taka 260 at the BDR Market. When asked, a meat trader said, "The price is higher than yesterday's in view of holy Eid ul Azha and we cannot say if we will again be able to sell at the yesterday's rate.

" But the thing is different. This year, the price of cattle and goat was cheaper compared with the last year's. Therefore, there could be no valid reason of elevated price. In truth, traders in Bangladesh use religious festivals and ordinances as avenues to make quick money.

Although the fish supply was scanty, price thereof was as usual. The noticeable thing was the disappearance of the river shad, flat fish, lata fish and burble. Since the Eid prayer was to be offered a day after followed by qurbani (sacrificing of domestic animals), most people were not in a hurry to buy fish. But the poor had no access to the cattle or the goat.

It is impossible for a day labourer who earns taka around 100 per day to think of buying a goat or to share a part of cow. Even they struggle hard to buy a packet of shemai valuing taka 15 only. In this context, the state should support them.

As for vegetables, the price level remained unchanged because of sufficient supply and less demand. Tomato was selling at taka 30, cucumber at taka 28, potato at taka 28, brinjal at between taka 20 and 28, radish at taka 12 and papa at taka 10 only.

A vegetable seller said, "Take note please, there is no vegetable below taka 10 and over taka 30 which has almost become a tradition."

"The price of an item rises abnormally when the invisible syndicate intervenes fearless of the afterwards consequence," uttered an economist, "It will continue unless and until the government builds a counter market force and as long as the government will not realise the truth that market economy (laissez faire theory) does not mean uncontrolled economy."

A consumer informed that prices of almost all vegetables had decreased after Eid.