A fair-price market in Mehendiganj upazila of Barishal is offering essential commodities at reduced rates to ease the financial burden on lower-income households this Ramadan.
Launched as a personal initiative by Md Rajib Ahsan, member of parliament from the Barishal-4 constituency, the market is open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Participating retailers are selling onion at about Tk40 per kilogramme (kg), garlic at Tk120 per kg, chickpea at Tk80 per kg, potato at Tk12 per kg, carrot at Tk30 per kg, cucumbers at Tk45 per kg and green chilli at Tk120 per kg.
Iftar items such as dates are priced between Tk300 and Tk350 per kg, while fruits like apples and oranges are selling for an average of Tk300 per kg.
Besides, vendors in other areas that have noticed peoples’ interest in the fair-price market are adjusting their own prices to grab some of the demand.
For example, cucumbers were selling for Tk90 to Tk100 per kg at the nearby Patarhat market just a day before the fair-price market opened on 21 February. Now though, the price has dropped to Tk45 per kg.
Locals said the lower prices have brought much-needed relief as they were previously forced to buy essential goods at heightened prices due to trader syndicates.
As such, they called for the initiative to continue year-round.
Mehendiganj upazila BNP Convener Gias Uddin Dipen, who is helping manage operations at the fair-price market, said Ahsan took it upon himself to control commodity prices by breaking trader syndicates.
He also informed that they plan to soon sell beef and chicken at the market for about Tk650 per kg and Tk150 per kg, respectively.
Mehendiganj upazila Jubo Dal Convener Syed Naim Islam Tuhin said the initiative aims to maintain prices during Ramadan as vested quarters have long tried to profit from destabilising the market.
North Barishal District Jubo Dal Convener Salauddin Piplu said Ahsan has undertaken various welfare initiatives since being elected, with the fair-price market reflecting his efforts.
