The FBCCI monitoring team appeared to have little success in stabilising market prices during the Ramzan. Sometimes they are helpless, at least their body language says during the TV projection, in containing the buyers' wrath as the prices of the daily necessities continue to go up.

The monitoring team of Bangladesh Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex body of the businessmen, had visited the markets five times only to see the volatile trend of the market. The team led by FBCCI chief Annisul Haque visited Karwan Bazaar and New Market while the team headed by his deputy Abul Kashem Ahmed visited Gulshan and Shantinagar markets only to find themselves among the restive buyers ahead of the Eid celebrations.

Sugar appeared to have gone beyond control of all market mechanisms and is being sold at three different rates in the country. The per KG price of sugar at millgate was sold at Taka 39 while it was 42 Taka at OMS operation. The retailers are selling sugar at Tk 70 per kg which is an all time high in the country. The Government functionaries claim that about two lakh tonnes of sugar are in the pipeline from abroad which will considerably stabilise the soaring sugar price. The bulk of the imported sugar will be distributed through dealers. Here the selection of dealers will play an important role in reducing the sugar price.

Sugar is on open sale at 100 different points in the city at the government subsidised rate of Tk 42 per kg. The private refiners, in collaboration with the government are organising the open sale of sugar which is far below the actual demand. TCB (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh) has been kept at bay from the distribution of sugar. The Sugar Refiners' Association ruled out any crisis of sugar. They said, two lakh tonnes of sugar are being imported, half of which already have reached the port.

Market control, which was the number one agenda of the election manifesto of the Mahajote government, seemed to have brought about little success in the market operation. The hanging of pre-Ramzan and Ramzan price lists, reactivation of TCB, the state- owned importing agency, threat of fielding mobile court in lowering prices of consumer goods seemed to have been of no effect.

The government which earlier exploited the post-recession effect of reduced food prices seemed to be helpless in facing surging prices of consumer goods in its aftermath. The Government attempt of eliminating price cartels has become a futile exercise, analysts said. The edible oil and pulse markets are under control of traders. You will get one KG pulse in exchange of six KGs of rice as per prevailing market condition. Edible oil is being sold at 72 Taka per KG at wholesale market.

Another spiralling effect of the consumer items is the massive toll collections by the different quarters at the different points of the country during the movement of goods. A section of law enforcing men and political beneficiaries are reported to have been patronising the toll collections. Traders, house owners, market owners, owners of bus and truck and traders of small shops based in footpaths are subjected to extortion by unscrupulous people.

Transport sector has of late become the main target of extortion ahead of Eid. The toll collectors have especially targeted goods-laden trucks all over the country. Police themselves are involved in toll collection at some places. At some other places organisations enjoying the blessing of the ruling party are indulging in this practice. A goods-laden truck bound for Dhaka from Jessore has to pay toll at nearly 20 spots. Police exact toll of Tk 200 at Navaron turn of Benapole, Tk 100 each at Chhachra point of Jessore, Arpara of Magura, Ramnagar High Way and Kanapur Highway of Faridpur.

Each truck has to pay Tk 1,200 in place of fixed rate of Tk 900 to BIWTC at Goalanda ghat for ferrying. The rate goes up to Tk 2,000 if there is traffic jam in the ferry. Besides, a goods-loaded truck has to pay Tk 140 to the police outpost at Uthli Highway of Manikganj, Tk 300 to Bathuli weighing centre and Tk 200 each at Nabinagar Bus Stand and Amin Bazar.

A Dhaka-bound goods truck from Rajshahi has to pay toll at 15 points ranging from Tk 100 to Tk 200 at each place. The total points of toll payment for a truck from Jessore to Dhaka stand at 50. Admitting toll collection by Police, Suhrab Hossain, DIG of Highway Range, said the volume of extortion has now declined significantly. Prompt action is now being taken against those involved in this practice, he claimed. He mentioned the names of some petty police officials who have been taken to task for toll collection.

He further said that a police sergeant is being withdrawn promptly from the spot soon after getting information of his involvement in toll collection. On the other hand, toll is being demanded from business organisations and established businessmen in Dhaka city by sending chits. Nearly 200 complaints of demanding toll from the businessmen have been submitted to the RAB and police. These businessmen have sought protection and security from the police.

Toll is being collected from the traders of Muktijuddha Super Market of Mirpur,Muktabangla Shopping Complex, Shah Ali Shopping Complex, New Market, Gausia Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers'Market, Taltola Super Market, Gulistan Super Market and most of the malls in old Dhaka. Persons identifying themselves as leaders and activists of Awami League and Chhatra League are extorting toll from these shopping complexes and markets. Cloth traders Abdur Rashid and Liaquat of Gausia and New Market alleged that local extortionists realised toll of Tk 10,000 from them last week in the name of Eid festival.

On August 26, some extortionists sent a chit to Giasuddin, a house owner of Dakshin Bisil area of Mirpur demanding a toll of seven lakh.On his refusal to pay toll, the miscreants sent shrouds for funeral and three rounds of bullet to his house on the night of August 29 and asked the house owner to remain ready to face the music. After receiving the threat Giasuddin filed a GD with the Darus Salam Police Station. Tk 25 lakh was demanded from engineer Ishaque of Uttar Pirerbagh late last month. Failing to get toll the extortionists opened fire at his furniture mart. The terrorists shot dead a furniture trader of Kafrul last Friday for a toll of Tk five lakh.

-New Nation