Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has said that due to a 40 percent increase in imports of daily necessities compared to last year, which in turn will make this year’s Ramadan more affordable for consumers.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon at the Ministry of Commerce conference room in the secretariat, Sk Bashir Uddin reviewed the market and price situation ahead of Ramadan after the 10th meeting of the task force on essential food items.
“We have assessed the current market situation, analysed import and production volumes, and concluded that the market this Ramadan will be better than last year,” he said. “We are confident that supply will remain stable and consumers will find essentials more accessible.”
He added that traders attending the meeting assured the task force that supply of daily necessities would remain uninterrupted and prices would be controlled. “Some prices may even drop compared to last year,” Sk Bashir Uddin said.
The commerce adviser also addressed concerns over rising rice prices in Netrokona, linking them to government projects like the Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and Payra Port.
“These large-scale projects have created significant government liabilities, leading to currency depreciation and larger IMF loans. These factors are impacting the prices of essential goods,” he explained.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, heads of various commerce ministry agencies, and senior representatives of private trade organisations attended the meeting.
