Staff Reporter:
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir yesterday directed the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) to take action if evidence of abnormal pricing of imported Malta is found, expressing concern over the retail price reaching Tk 520 per kilogram.
At the same time, he urged importers to open letters of credit (LCs) promptly and increase imports to boost market supply and bring prices under control.
The minister gave the directives at an exchange meeting with traders and representatives of relevant gov-ernment agencies at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat in the city, said a press release.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the prevailing price of Malta, Muktadir asked traders to explain how the retail price had reached Tk 520 per kilogram after accounting for import costs, duties, taxes and other expenses.
He said the government would not allow unjustified price hikes and instructed the consumer rights watchdog to take action if evidence of abnormal pricing emerged.
At the meeting, traders attributed the high prices mainly to supply shortages.
According to them, only 12 to 29 containers of Malta arrived in Bangladesh in some weeks, while around 15 containers were required daily to meet normal demand.
Importers said high duties, transportation costs, shipping and port-related complications, and losses in-curred on previous consignments had discouraged imports.
They also highlighted the financial risks associated with transporting and storing the perishable fruit.
After hearing the traders, the commerce minister assured them that the duty structure for Malta would be reviewed.
He urged importers to explore alternative sources and open LCs without delay to increase supplies in the market over the next few weeks.
The meeting also discussed measures to ensure adequate supplies of other imported fruits, including dates.
The minister said the government’s decision on duties and taxes on date imports would be announced this week.
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) will also meet date importers within the next few days to review international prices for different varieties and grades and propose reasonable indicative assessment values to the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, BTTC Chairman Nasir-Ud-Doula, DNCRP Director Gen-eral Md. Zahirul Islam, an NBR representative, senior commerce ministry officials and leaders of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association attended the meeting.
