Two executive magistrates of Chittagong district administration conducted the mobile courts and fined 10 wholesalers with Tk77,000
The onion traders in Khatunganj wholesale market in Chittagong on Monday kept their shutters down following the mobile court drives at the commodity business hub.
Aiming to keep the onion market stable, two executive magistrates of Chittagong district administration conducted the mobile courts and fined 10 wholesalers with Tk77,000, largely for manipulating the prices of onion.
On Saturday, prices again rose to Tk42 to Tk43 per kilogram.
On Sunday, the wholesale rate for a kg of Indian onion dropped to Tk37 per kg following the mobile court drives.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, General Secretary of Khatunganj Hamid Ullah Market Traders’ Welfare Association, Mohammad Idris, claimed that the wholesalers had no hand in hiking the prices.
“The panicked traders dealing in onion, garlic and ginger have shut down their businesses on their own following the mobile court drives. No program was announced from any organization,” said the wholesaler.
“Action should be taken against the importers of the land ports of the country who are largely responsible for the price hike. The importers do not provide the wholesalers with any valid document. That’s why the wholesalers of Khatunganj markets, who are actually commission agents, cannot show any valid documents to the mobile courts,” he added.
According to Khatunganj market wholesalers, Indian onions sold for Tk36 to Tk37 per kg on Monday.
