This abnormal rise of price of locally grown green chilli cannot be attributed to the floods alone because it was selling at over Tk. 100 before the advent of the waters. Even that was an exorbitant price by any definition. And the fact that imported varieties sell at Tk. 100 to Tk. 120 per kg offered little solace as it also remains out of reach of most people.

The galloping price of essential commodities is clearly symptomatic of lack of coordination existing among the various agencies operating in the markets. Apparently, importers, wholesalers and retailers are running their business arbitrarily following no rules or agreement. Even the highest trade bodies in the country could make little progress in establishing some kind of cohesion in the markets.

We are aware of the various methods applied by the present government in a bid to check price escalation and thereby steady the erratic market. But we have yet to see any tangible result. In some cases the propensity to bypass the normal channels proved to be counter-productive. We therefore feel relevant government officials should sit with the appropriate agencies, the real people involved in the commerce, to evaluate the market situation based on ground reality. They should be given the required trade incentives and protection so that they may operate freely and reach a solution to the best interest of all concerned.

With floodwaters getting unmanageable, people apprehend further escalation of prices in the coming months. It is the solemn responsibility of the government to ensure that no such thing actually happens.