Dear Mr.Munshi,
The situation of escalating prices of food items is indeed very complex; its not only the pricing of items but also the attitude of the sellers(specially retailers) who remain adamant by quoting a high price and and doesnt care to know the negotiated price offered- the price quoted by this seller is the final-take or leave. Such a situation in the retail market is a matter to be thoughtful of particularly because "Retail sellers" normally remain concerned to sell off their goods at the quickest/shortest possible time. Such is true of all daily items, i.e rice,oil,vegetables, fish,pulses etc. or these food items will rot. How they manage if they cant sell to (1) make their profit and to (2)keep their goods edible till next day or more is something we are not understanding.This specially true of local items.
Surprisingly as people have to survive they are buying in small quantities i.e half kilo quantity- but it does drain the savings of the poor and lower middle class.
This doesnt affect the rich and the upper middle class; they purchase less from local retail outlets as they doubt their quality and so are diverted now to Departmental stores where the price is just a little higher than the Retail sellers but quality guaranteed. departmental stores import either direct or through the reknowned Wholesellers or use both methods according to convenience of price and shipment timings.
Prior to 1/11 most of the import market and local supply market were controlled by the "Core group" of Political parties- it would be difficult for any independents to survive the competition. These group owe alligiance to their Political Mentors but after the corruption drive most fled or hiding as they never maintain any transparent financial dealings nor paid tax-- plus they want their Mentors released so have caused a shortage in the market(vegetables,local fish,locally produced rice etc).-plus they are not active -so some replacement importers supported by DCCI/FBCCI etc are being encouraged but they dont much about the tricks of the trade. TCB is redundant and should be abolished- too much spending of the Goverment-this is another reason why we never have sufficient quantity- Ministry Food covers them and tries make alternataive through cooperation of Embassies here.
Locally produced items are costlier than that from India-- so what does it matter if India doesnt export some items- we should be deft in establishing relations with Singapore and Dubai the hubb of all international markets and from where we can get other country to export - but we need efficient Bangladesh Mission 0fficers with knowledge of trade/business to deal fix price and offer the L/c within a stipulated time frame-- this is where the main failure lies.
Open Markets by the Government is helpful and some local markets under supervision of BDR is a temporary solution.
Right now the Expatriate or NRBs can help this Goverment by utilising their PR with NRBs of other foreign countries and provide the CTG the vital statistics of an exporter onn competitive basis and shipment period.
Hope this input has been useful.
Badrul Islam
"M.B.I. Munshi" <MBIMunshi@gmail.com> wrote:
"M.B.I. Munshi" <MBIMunshi@gmail.com> wrote:
I understand that India has banned certain food items for export to
Bangladesh since October 2006 and that it increased the price of rice
recently by almost $100 for the export market. Are these measures
having an adverse affect on food prices in Bangladesh so that we may
consider India as taking a deliberately anti-Bangladesh stance and
trying to influence political developments in the country or are these
issues completely unrelated? If there is in fact some relationship
between the export ban and the rise of food prices here how could
Bangladesh offset these problems and why is not the Interim Government
making any comment on this unfriendly gesture by our big neighbour?
I would appreciate some comment on this issue as I am not entirely
clear on the matter and I am under the distinct impression that the
food price inflation is being artificially created although the two
floods this year had something to do with it but is that not also
caused by India by its unnecessary, unpredictable and often motivated
release of water from its side during the summer months. Also will
this not be a more serious problem after the Tipaimukh Dam
construction and when other river linking projects are complete? Does
the Interim Government have any policy to overcome these hostile and
distinctly unfriendly gestures of India or is Bangladesh to be to be
led by backboneless leaders lacking in national spirit and who are
apparently being advised by fifth columnist elements? How else can one
explain the Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya appointment to the United
Nations as our permanent representative? Is this not a national shame?
Comments are welcome on all these subjects and issues.
Regards
MBI Munshi
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