The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has held a human chain program in Gopalganj to protest the sudden disappearance of edible oil from the market and the abnormal increase in prices due to the manipulation of some unscrupulous traders and profiteers.
The program was organized by the organization's district branch in front of the Press Club today, Wednesday (April 8) at 11 am.
Gopalganj CAB President Advocate Amjad Hossain, Senior Vice President Professor Golam Mostafa (GM), General Secretary Mazharul Haque Bablu, Organizing Secretary Sheikh Mohabbati Anwar, Treasurer Nur Mohammad Sikder, and others spoke at the human chain.
The speakers alleged that despite the adequate supply of edible oil in the market, a powerful syndicate circle is creating an artificial crisis. Oil has been stored in warehouses and the supply in the market has been reduced, resulting in extreme suffering for the common consumers. Soybean oil is being sold in the retail market at a higher price of 30 to 35 taka per liter, ignoring the price fixed by the government. Even in the case of raw palm oil, the unscrupulous group is taking extra profit per liter.
The leaders of Gopalganj CAB also expressed deep concern about the quality and safety of edible oil. They said that currently in many cases oil is being stored and marketed in 'non-food grade' drums. The residues of chemicals used in these drums are mixing with the oil, creating serious health risks like cancer, liver and kidney diseases. On the one hand, consumers are paying higher prices, and on the other hand, they are being forced to consume unsafe food. They commented that although the administration has talked about regular market supervision, there is no effective reflection of it in reality.
The CAB raised 6-point demands to resolve the current situation. Which includes - ensuring the sale of healthy cooking oil at the price fixed by the government, demanding exemplary punishment for the leaders of the syndicate, regular market supervision and operations, taking strict legal action against hoarding and completely stopping the use of 'non-food grade' drums in the case of oil and ensuring mandatory 'food-grade' containers.
The leaders warned that if the edible oil market is not controlled and the violence of the syndicate is not stopped as soon as possible, then a more stringent movement will be called for by the general consumers. Other leaders of the CAB Gopalganj district branch, local conscious civil society and media workers working in various electronic and print media in the district were present at the program. All of them strongly demanded that legal action be taken against the group immediately.
