CHITTAGONG: Commerce Secretary M Ghulam Hussain Tuesday directed the district administration to take legal action if anyone was found selling sugar over Tk 45 per kg on the wholesale market of Chittagong.

Exchanging views with the business community of the port city in the afternoon, the Commerce Secretary also asked the big sugar-manufacturing groups to send production and sale information of their groups to the Ministry.

The view-exchange meeting between the commerce secretary and the businessmen was held at the Circuit House as a step to keep the prices of essential commodities stable during the remaining days of Ramadan.

Advising the businessmen not to get panicked, he said the government would not impose duty on the unrefined sugar after Eid-ul-Fitr. “The Finance Ministry has agreed in principle in this regard.”   

Three big sugar and edible oil manufacturing and importing groups—S Alam, Mostafa Group and SAA Group—assured the Commerce Secretary that the prices of sugar and edible oils would remain stable during the rest of the month of Ramadan.

S Alam Group Chairman Saiful Alam Masud pledged that his group would supply 200 tonnes of sugar at the rate of Tk 43 per kg daily to different markets in Chittagong.  

Requesting the businessmen to remain firm on their commitment, FBCCI President AK Azad said, “Prices of essentials increase due to maneuverings of some businessmen. Action will be taken against them.”

BDST : 2030 HRS, AUG 31, 2010