The government will strengthen monitoring of the fruit market ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan to prevent artificial shortages, hoarding, and unreasonable price hikes, said Mohammad Zahirul Islam, director general of the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection (DNCRP).
He said the country currently has adequate supplies of fruits, but authorities are keeping a close watch on the market to ensure that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East does not disrupt the domestic supply chain.
“We are monitoring the situation so that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East does not have a negative impact on the domestic market and the supply chain remains normal,” he said at a discussion with fruit importers, wholesalers, retailers, and representatives of relevant government agencies in Dhaka today.
The meeting was held at the DNCRP headquarters in Karwan Bazar to discuss measures to ensure adequate fruit supplies and keep prices at reasonable levels during Ramadan.
Zahirul said market monitoring would be intensified to protect consumers and ensure fair competition.
“Fines are not the main objective of the consumer rights authority. Our primary goal is to protect consumers’ interests and ensure fair competition in the market,” he said.
He urged traders to refrain from using harmful chemicals or formalin in fruits such as bananas and papayas and to provide consumers with accurate information about the quality and category of fruits.
Fruit sellers, including those operating from vans, must display price lists and preserve sales receipts when necessary, he said. Special monitoring will also be conducted on coconuts, he added.
The DG also warned against the creation of market syndicates or artificial shortages ahead of Ramadan, urging importers, wholesalers, and retailers to act responsibly.
At the meeting, fruit importers and traders called for a reduction in import duties, saying high duties were one of the major factors behind rising fruit prices.
They also expressed concern that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could disrupt shipments of dates and other fruits. They said supplies could come under pressure ahead of Ramadan if letters of credit could not be opened at lower duty rates from November.
Sirajul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, said Bangladesh depends on imports from several countries, including Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, to meet domestic demand.
He said the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz was affecting fruit shipments and urged the authorities to consider reducing duties on imported fruits.
At the same time, he called on importers to avoid unreasonable price increases.
Representatives of government agencies said the tariff structure on imported fruits was under review. They said there was currently no major problem with overall fruit supplies and urged importers to ensure supplies in line with market demand.
They also called on traders not to take advantage of increased demand during Ramadan to make excessive profits.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Organizing Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the concerns raised by importers had merit and called for quick decisions to facilitate fruit imports ahead of Ramadan.
DNCRP Director (Complaints and Investigation) Masum Arefin said ensuring that consumers receive products at fair prices was the responsibility of all stakeholders. He urged businesses to reduce excessive price gaps between importers, wholesalers, and retailers.
DNCRP Director (Administration and Finance) Sebastian Rema, who chaired the meeting, called on business associations to play a responsible role in ensuring reasonable prices and preventing market syndication.
Earlier, DNCRP Director (Operations and Laboratory) Atia Sultana said demand for fruits rises significantly during Ramadan, making it essential to prevent artificial shortages and maintain an uninterrupted supply chain.
Officials also urged traders to display price lists, preserve purchase and sales records, ensure accurate weights, refrain from selling rotten fruits, maintain valid trade licenses, and avoid manipulation of expiry dates, particularly for dates.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, CAB, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Department of Agricultural Marketing, Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports, Dhaka North City Corporation, FBCCI, fruit importers, wholesalers, retailers.
