Police determined to root out any syndicate in the market: DMP commissioner

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman has said the law enforcers are fully prepared to counter and dismantle any syndicate involved in hiking prices of essential commodities.

"We are not aware of any political impropriety concerning the syndicates. Our intelligence agencies are vigilant. If such information comes to our attention, I want to emphasise that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police is fully prepared to counter and dismantle any syndicate," he stated while presiding over a meeting between businessmen and DMP officials on Thursday. 

The DMP commissioner also said a lack of coordination is behind the price hike despite the availability of commodities.

Khokon Ali Matbar, a businessman from Pallabi Muslim Bazar, argued that if they were not subjected to road extortion and had unimpeded movement for goods-laden vehicles to Dhaka, the prices would have been normal.

When questioned about the perpetrators of extortion and truck obstructions, he replied, "The police may have better knowledge of them; this should be identified by the police themselves."

Regarding this, DMP Additional Commissioner Khandaker Mahid Uddin said they had not received any complaints of extortion in recent years. 

"These [extortions] were heard 10-15 years ago. Now, there is now exploitation. Customers should buy commodities after seeing receipts," he said. 

Md Abdul Jabbar Mondol, assistant director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, blamed businessmen for the price hikes. 

"Whenever we visit any business, they can't show us receipts, which means they fix prices at their own wish. They don't even pay taxes and tariffs. If the super shops can sell potatoes and some other commodities at a lower price then why don't kitchen markets," he asked. 

The meeting was organised by the DMP to discuss how to control the country's rising commodity prices. Representatives of 86 commodity markets attended the meeting. 

Humayun Kabir, a business leader of Gulshan-1 kitchen market, said a certain group wants to put the government in trouble and they hiked the price overnight.

The businessman also blamed the recent heavy downpour and disruption of the supply chain over inflated prices.

Shahidul Islam, a businessman from Shyambazar wholesale market, suggested the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh start selling commodities to the grassroots level.

He claimed that conglomerates in commodity business control the market. "They take the lion's share of loans, but when we approach banks, they deny us. If you can guarantee hassle-free bank loans for small enterprises, the situation could improve within six months."

Echoing a similar sentiment, another businessman, wishing not to be named, told the DMP commissioner that some big businesses control the entire market. "Their number isn't so long. If you can control them, prices would go normal automatically."

An official of Dhaka South said that a group of intermediaries and brokers are profiting by inserting themselves between producers and customers.

He added, "Whenever you pay more you would get the product either it wouldn't get the product. Everything is available if you pay more, we need to strengthen monitoring."

"If you can curb extortion and middleman's grab over the market, then the price may go down," he added. 

Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner and Chief of Detective Branch Mohammad Harun Or Rashid said a vested quarter, composed of brokers and middlemen, is "planning a sabotage" to unsettle the government centring the national polls by pushing prices.

However, DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman dismissed the notion of a "sabotage threat", stating that "there is no definite fear." 

Blaming "lack of coordination" for the price hike, the commissioner argued, "Commodity prices are determined by demand and supply… We've observed ample supplies, and prices are adjusted in accordance with the international market." 

"The police will collaborate with the commerce ministry's monitoring committee and the directorate of consumer rights protection. They may also join city corporation operations if needed to handle situations promptly," he said. 

There are no market shortages, but sometimes crises arise due to vested interests, he mentioned. Previously, many raw materials were trapped at Daulatdia Ghat and spoiled, but the completion of the Padma Bridge has resolved this issue, he added.