Businesses urge stable supply chain to keep daily commodities affordable

Businesses have called for maintaining a stable supply chain to keep the prices of daily commodities, including edible oil, sugar, flour, pulses, and spices, within reach of the people.

They also demanded strict control over the black market for essential products and the removal of complications related to imports.

These issues were raised at the meeting of the standing committee on essential food items, organised at the Motijheel office of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries (FBCCI) today.

Instead of relying on a few corporate companies to control the market for essential commodities, the meeting participants recommended providing equal opportunities to small and medium importers for importing these products.

FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam participated virtually as the chief guest at the meeting. He mentioned that FBCCI has already communicated with the highest levels of government to address the black market for daily commodities, including sugar and spices.

"Tax and VAT issues have also been discussed, and we hope for a positive outcome," he said.

FBCCI Senior Vice-President Md Amin Helali said, "An unstable environment has been created in the country's market due to various reasons. We need to overcome this situation."

During the open discussion, the speakers suggested creating a factual database on the demand, production, stock, and supply of daily commodities. They urged the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to directly import daily commodities for social security programmes instead of relying on corporate companies.

Additionally, the speakers proposed reopening the closed sugar mills under a public-private partnership to increase the capacity of the TCB. They also recommended strengthening border surveillance to stop the smuggling of daily commodities.

The meeting was presided over by Haji Md Golam Mawla, president of the Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Traders Association. FBCCI Director and president of the Bangladesh Wholesale Spices Traders Association, Haji Mohammad Enayet Ullah, was also present at the event.