A three-day “Festive Sale” campaign launched by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Md Zahidul Islam Miah has brought relief to consumers in key city markets, including the busy Riazuddin Bazar.
Held from 23 May to 25 May, the initiative aimed to stabilise prices of essential commodities during Eid-ul-Adha, with spice and grocery traders offering discounts of 10 to 20 per cent on a wide range of items.
Business leaders said traders responded positively to the district administration’s call to ease consumer pressure ahead of the festival. The campaign was inaugurated on Saturday at Riazuddin Bazar, where the DC launched the programme under the slogan: “Prices will fall, joy will rise during the festival.”
Prices of several essentials were reduced significantly. Cardamom fell from Tk4,800 to Tk4,200 per kg, cinnamon from Tk600 to Tk520, and cloves from Tk1,600 to between Tk1,350 and Tk1,400. Raisins were sold at Tk720 instead of Tk980, ginger at Tk150 instead of Tk190, and garlic at Tk110 instead of Tk140 per kg. Onion prices declined by Tk25 to Tk40 per kg depending on quality. Cumin dropped from Tk750 to Tk520, Indian cumin from Tk650 to Tk570, and sweet cumin from Tk280 to Tk225 per kg. Discounts were also applied to black pepper, nutmeg, chili, turmeric, coriander and other spices.
President of the Riazuddin Bazar Banik Kalyan Samiti Mohammad Salamat Ali told TIMES of Bangladesh that nearly 100 spice and grocery shops participated to help consumers purchase products at lower prices. A five-member monitoring committee supervised market activities throughout the campaign. He added that traders sought to counter the perception that prices inevitably rise during Ramadan and Eid.
The district administration said the initiative aimed to reduce market volatility during major festivals and create a consumer-friendly environment. Mobile courts were deployed to monitor markets and protect consumer rights. On 24 May, mobile court teams conducted drives in Kazir Deuri and Pahartali, filing three cases and collecting Tk9,000 in fines.
The campaign has already impacted Khatunganj, the country’s largest wholesale market, particularly stabilising ginger prices. Around 41 containers of imported ginger had remained stuck at Chattogram Port, creating supply pressure. Following coordination with customs authorities, 37 containers were released, reducing ginger prices in wholesale and retail markets by nearly Tk40 per kg.
Md Zahidul Islam Miah said the administration is promoting a culture of reducing commodity prices during festivals through cooperation with the business community. “The positive impact of this campaign is already visible. The Riazuddin Bazar Businessmen Association has committed in writing to reduce prices of Eid essentials, including spices, ginger, onions and garlic, by 10 to 20 per cent,” he said.
He added that monitoring teams had inspected chain shops and markets across Chattogram, finding that many product prices had decreased instead of rising. Although the initiative began as a three-day campaign in selected markets, the DC said monitoring and price control drives will continue until Eid-ul-Adha and gradually include more markets and chain shops across the district.
