Traders expected that the prices would decrease as students inspected markets in different areas of the country, including the capital, to check the price hike of essential commodities on Friday.
Several traders in the capital’s Karwan Bazar, one of the largest kitchen markets in the country, said that the pieces of essential commodities would decrease as they were buying and transporting the commodities at lower prices and without extortion on roads.
Md Al Amin, owner of Bismillah Enterprise at Karwan Bazar, said that they could not raise their voice against the corrupt system of extortionists over the years and several syndicates controlled prices of commodities.
‘We feel relaxed now. Syndicates are not active and extortion remains suspended,’ he said without further explanation.
Md Morshed, who led a market monitoring team at Karwan Bazar on Friday evening, said that students encouraged the traders to stop any illegal dealing, including extortion.
‘We are checking the wholesale and retailed prices of essential commodities. If anyone demands higher prices, we will inform the authorities,’ he said.
Traders said that there was no change in the prices of some imported items while the prices of vegetables, broiler chicken and eggs decreased.
Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country amid violent protests led by the students on August 5. Since then extortion was stopped although the protests disrupted supply chains, the traders said.
Asma Akter, who was with her two daughters joined the market monitoring team of the students, said that syndicated business was responsible for price hikes of essential commodities.
‘The price hike rendered my life miserable. As a reform is taking place, I believe it will make an impact on the kitchen market as well,’ she said, adding that she trust students who can bring a discipline in kitchen market like many other sectors.
Al Amin, a student of Tejgaon College, said that students achieved a victory over a corrupt and discriminatory system and all types of illegal and anti-people measures would be stopped.
He hoped that the new interim government would be able to foil all conspiracies and ensure a comfortable life for the people of the country.
Abu Hanif, another trader at the Karwan Bazar, said that if accountability and transparency could be ensured at every level from production to marketing, the prices of goods would certainly be reduced.
He said that extortion by police and local leaders at different levels remained suspended now.