Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

From tea shops to famous newspapers and other media, the issue that has become the focus of discussion is the unbridled rise in commodity pricesThe traders are putting the common people in trouble by increasing the prices of daily necessities by making syndicates on various pretexts. Once the price of a commodity increases, it does not decrease. Although various government agencies are working in this regard, they are not playing an effective role, so the price of goods is not being controlledAnd the price of goods in our country increases for no reason. If any excuse is found, the prices of daily necessities are increased.

Sometimes due to fasting, sometimes Eid or sometimes due to the announcement of the national budget, increasing the prices of goods has become a regular occurrence. And we have been noticing this evil trend since our childhood and even today the same trend continues.

Rather, it can be said that the trend has now increased at an exponential rate. And among the many reasons for this, the main reason is that the import-dependent business is concentrated in the hands of a few big businessmen. Another reason is that even if the food production in the country, especially the production of agricultural products, has increased enough, the people do not get the benefits because of not being able to build a modern storage system and a quality market systemAnd the prices of daily necessities are increasing at such an abnormal, unexpected and sudden rate that the common man is in a state of despair.

As a result, the living conditions of the low-income people to the middle-class people are becoming increasingly miserable. For them, the rise in the price of goods is like a new curse! If this continues, it will become more and more difficult for the middle class to survive.And the reason for this increase in commodity prices is the addiction of traders to gain excessive profit, illegally increasing the stock of any product, shortage of raw materials and energy for the production of food or daily necessities of the market, not setting fair and fixed prices, reluctance to monitor the market, etc. However, along with these issues, the gas, oil and electricity crisis or the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war have also made market regulation difficult. Due to the ongoing war, problems have arisen in various areas due to complications in the import of oil. Even using this opportunity, a class of unscrupulous traders are increasing the price of goods unnecessarily!

If the price of goods continues to rise like this, our economy will collapse very quickly. Therefore, the current interim government should take appropriate and effective steps now. In this case, the first thing that needs to be done is that the institutions involved in market regulation ie TCB, Directorate of Consumer Protection should take strict action. The perpetrators of sudden changes in commodity prices in the market by creating artificial crises must be rooted out.

> Reasons for the increase in commodity prices: Through various reviews, the reasons for the constant increase in commodity prices in the country have come out, which are- 1. Traders' syndicates are a major cause of commodity price hikes. It is often alleged that a class of highly profitable unscrupulous traders control the market by hoarding commodities. The government has also blamed the syndicates of these traders for the increase in commodity prices at various times. 2. Heavy extortion on industrial owners, entrepreneurs, producers and traders is another reason for the increase in commodity prices. Traders and producers compensate the loss of levy paid by extortionists by increasing the price of goods.

As a result, common consumers are affected. 3. The effect of increase in the price of goods in the international market also affects the domestic market. When the price of a product increases in the international market, its price naturally increases in the domestic market. 4. Due to the increase in duty, the price of goods also increases. Negligence and failure of the government in market regulation and supervision is a major reason for the increase in commodity prices. 5. Although the government has at times blamed the traders' syndicates for the rise in prices, administrative action against them is rarely seen.

Because, due to illegal bribery, the nuisance of black marketers is increasing gradually in the country. As a result, despite the reduction in duty, in most cases the price of goods does not decrease. Famous economists of the domestic and foreign world have found out more reasons behind this. But it is very important to know about this in the language of Islam. Because Islam has such age-old benevolent well-thought-out policies and far-reaching market plans in business; If implemented, it is possible to control commodity prices and prevent unwanted price inflation and above all to eliminate the alarming situation and instability of the market. Therefore, there is no alternative to implement Islamic business principles to curb the current rise in commodity prices.

* Danger of black market and hoarding: Black marketeers hoard liquid prices in the hope of higher profits, causing crisis. A sudden stoppage of the supply of goods causes a shortage of goods. This sometimes results in price increase. Somewhere again by sabotaging and increasing the price of goods. But it is not possible to increase the income of people from high to low income instantly. In this, the income of the black market increases manifold, and the common people have to suffer. Therefore, as per the laws of these black market countries, he deserves to be punished, as well as he is cursed according to Islamic law. Allah Ta'ala says, "Those who afflict believing men and believing women without any wrong done by them, they will surely bear slander and obvious sins." (Surah Ahzab: 58). There is a terrible punishment in the Hereafter for hoarders and those who conspire with them to create scarcity. Allah Ta'ala says, 'O believers! Surely many of the scholars and philanthropists eat people's wealth unjustly. And those who obstruct the way of Allah and those who hoard gold and silver, and do not spend it in the way of Allah, give them glad tidings of a painful chastisement. On that day they will be heated in the fire of hell. Then they will be marked with them on their foreheads, sides, and backs, and it will be said: This is what you reserved for yourselves. So now taste your savings.' (Surah Tawbah: 34-35). It is in the hadith, narrated by Sawban (R.A.); He said, Rasul (pbuh)He said, "Nothing can increase life except good deeds, and nothing can change the Taqdeer except prayer." Man is deprived of the sustenance due to his sins.' (Sunan Ibn Majah: 4022). Stocking increases the price of goods. Islam forbids hoarding for the sake of greater profit. Ma'mar Ibn Abdullah Ibn Fazalah (RA) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say, "No one hoards except a sinner." In another narration, "Whoever hoards food for 40 nights, his is with Allah." There is no relationship.'

Another hadith states, 'The importer is blessed, and the hoarder is cursed' (Sunan Daremi: 2433). There is a hadith that Allah punishes a person who hoards food for Muslims for 40 days with leprosy and poverty. In another hadith it is stated, 'The curse of Allah, the angels and mankind is on the juror. Allah Ta'ala does not accept any of his worship, whether it is obligatory or not. (Fatawaye Shami: 6/398

* General policy in controlling market prices: Islam has ordered to prevent unrestrained price increase. That is why the responsibility of the Islamic state is to keep the market price stable to reduce public suffering. The general principle of Islam in regulating market prices is that the producer shall enjoy freedom in determining the price of the product. In general state will not fix the price of goods. Why not, if the price of the product is fixed, the producer can reduce the quality of the product. But if the market price is abnormal and goes beyond the purchasing power of the common man, Islam has allowed market price regulation. Shaykh Tahir Badawi said, "Through the above-mentioned hadiths, the Prophet (PBUH) Declaring that unnecessary interference with personal freedom is tyranny. The Prophet (PBUH) preferred to meet Allah free from the responsibility of oppression.

But when abnormal transactions penetrate the market, such as the hoarding of goods by a few traders and their price manipulation, the collective interest will prevail over the freedom of a few individuals. In this situation, it is permissible to set a price to meet the needs or demands of the society and to protect the society from greedy beneficiaries. This principle is self-evident in order not to allow them to pursue their evil intentions.' (Nizamul Iqtisadi Fil Islam: 78). Allama Ibnul Qayyim (RA)He said, 'If the welfare of the people is not fulfilled without fixing the price, then the ruler will fix a just price for them. No one should be harmed or wronged. And if their needs are met and welfare achieved without fixing the price, then the head of state should not fix the price.' (Kitabul Majmu : 12/121).

> What to do if the price of goods increases: If the price of goods increases, believers can resist it in various ways. For example-

1. Price fixing: If the price of goods increases, the government will fix the price of the daily necessities. Anas (RA) said, the people said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Commodity prices have increased. You determine the price for usHe said, 'Indeed, Allah is the One who determines the speed of commodity prices, He is the One who brings narrowness and breadth, and He is the Provider of sustenance.

I want to meet Allah in such a condition that none of you can raise a complaint against me regarding his life and wealth.' (Sunan Abi Dawud: 3451).

2. Boycott of overpriced goods: Society may boycott overpriced goods to protest unfair price hikes by traders. Why not, during the era of Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A.), when the price of meat increased, people complained to him and demanded to fix the price. He said, 'You reduce its value. Stop buying meat from them.' (Al Bidaya Wan Nihaya: 9/141).

3. Ease of buying and selling: Traders should adopt ease of buying and selling in such difficult times. The Holy Prophet (PBUH)Said, "Allah will admit such a person to Paradise, who was a buyer-seller, a judge and an easy-going person." (Sunan Nasa'i: 4696). In the eyes of Islam, the increase in commodity prices is a kind of punishment from Allah. Therefore, when the price of goods increases, it is necessary to avoid sin and repent.
Finally, special attention should be paid to ensure that unscrupulous traders cannot illegally stockpile products and ensure proper implementation of the law. Even the government has to be more proactive to overcome import dependency. Upazila-wise cold storage should be established for proper storage of perishable food products. In the country, 30 percent of food products are wasted annually due to lack of preservation. As a result, it will play a leading role in reducing the pressure of daily necessities in the market. Along with the government, we also have to play a proactive role. Apart from preventing wastage, special attention should be given to ensure that even an inch of land is not left uncultivated as per the instructions of the Chief Minister. Basically, if we try to produce our necessary goods, on the one hand, as the tendency to import will decrease, the evil intentions of the profit-seeking traders will also be thwarted. It should be remembered that the overall issue of market control is not in our hands, but if we are aware, the increase in daily necessities is bound to go downSo we have nothing to do with the increase in the price of goods in the international market. But the government can reduce taxes as per need. Now is the time to take advantage of the tools that government policymakers have at their disposal.'

The writer is a columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society