The New Nation - Internet Edition

Talha Bin Habib

The price of sugar, ata, maida, suji has increased by at least Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg in the different city markets just days before Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune.

Traditionally the Muslims used these commodities for preparing sweet food items on the holy occasion, which will be observed tomorrow night.

Retailers blamed the wholesalers for deliberately increasing the price by capitalising on the holy occasion.

But the wholesalers blamed some distributors for creating artificial shortfall that resulted in the sudden price hike of these essential items.

Excessive greed of some businessmen was draining people's meagre resources, said customers in the city. They called upon the businessmen not to make excessive profit during the holy month of Ramzan.

When asked to comment on the excessive price hike by some businessmen, an influential leader of FBCCI said they have no authority to compel them to make less and rational profit but could be motivated to do so.

Per kg of sugar was sold at Tk 35 to Tk 36, which was Tk 34 and Suji of different brands was sold at Tk 60 to Tk 64, which was Tk 56 to Tk 60 in the city market yesterday.

Different brands of two kg packet of ata was sold at Tk 78 to Tk 80 which was Tk 75 and maida between Tk 88 to Tk 90 which was Tk 80 to Tk 85 previously.

Soybean oil was sold at Tk 112 to Tk 114 per kg while super palm oil was at Tk 98 to Tk 100 yesterday in the city market.