Cumilla (South) Correspondent

In the holy Ramadan, the instability in the market price of edible oil across the country has affected the markets of the larger Laksam upazila in the southern part of Cumilla.

The market for edible oil and other products has also become unstable for various reasons. There are various disputes in the public mind of the area regarding the manipulation of edible oil by local hoarding traders and proper quality control, and the health risks of the people of this region are increasing.

How long will the people of Comilla continue to suffer from the price of edible oil? There is increasing anger in the public mind of the area about this. Everything seems to be the manipulation of syndicate traders. Especially in Laksam, local dealers of famous brands of soybean oil companies have large stocks of soybean oil and other edible oils in their warehouses, but they are making huge profits by creating a crisis in the market. The locals claim that due to the lack of market supervision by the local administration, these syndicates are getting an opportunity to do illegal business.

Multiple sources of local victims said that people of this region are struggling to buy edible oil along with daily necessities in the district's markets. The price of edible oil has been increased several times in the last two weeks, and there is no relief in the minds of the people. 1 liter bottle of soybean oil of various brands is being sold at 198/200 taka and 5 liter bottle at 950/980 taka, and mustard oil is being sold at retail and wholesale prices even higher than the price of soybean oil.

The price of edible oil is 40/50 percent higher than the market price of last year at the beginning of this year. However, the price of these edible oils is currently increasing like a wild horse in the market, but the reports published by various private organizations show that there are various rumors in the public mind about what we are eating. In the meantime, traders have been looting the market prices of rice, pulses, vegetables and spices, and it is nothing but a fantasy that edible oil traders will sit there. Although several soybean oil factories have been established in this region, many have raised questions about the role of the market monitoring committee.

According to multiple sources of local economic experts, only 10 percent of the demand for about 3,000 tons of edible oil is being produced locally in this region. As a result, the rest has to be brought in from outside to meet the demand of the area. Necessary legal action should be taken against the over-profitable, over-greedy traders in the markets of this region.

Not just verbally. Those involved in manipulating the market prices of daily necessities, including cooking oil, must be identified and severely punished. Everyone must remember that cooking oil is the main ingredient in the diet of people of all classes and professions in this region. The local administration should control the market price at any cost. We want an immediate end to this situation of cooking oil. The people of the area have raised questions about the responsibilities and roles of several organizations and authorities, including the District BSTI and the Consumer Rights Protection Council.

In this regard, it was not possible to get a statement from the district, upazila and divisional officials on multiple mobile phones.