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The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded strict punishment for the syndicate of businessmen involved in recent price manipulation of broiler chicken.
The demand came at a human chain organised by CAB in front of the National Press Club in the city on Thursday.
Broiler-chicken price reached an all-time high of Tk 280-290 a kg on March 21.
Later, on March 23, four big poultry companies fixed a maximum farm-level price of broiler chicken at Tk 195 a kg on March 23.
In the following week, the broiler price gradually declined and is now hovering between Tk 190 and Tk 210 per kg in the city, market sources said.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice President of CAB SM Nazer Hossain said by creating a syndicate in the broiler chicken market, unscrupulous traders looted millions of taka from the commoners' pockets just within one and a half weeks.
Legal actions should be taken against these dishonest businessmen, he said.
"We have come to know that the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) has filed a case against the leading poultry companies for forming the syndicate.
He said they are unaware of the updates of the cases and sceptical about their future. "We want the BCC to clarify the matter."
Now, the government knows the names of the people involved in the broiler chicken syndicate, he said.
If the government does not take measures, CAB will go for tougher actions by organising protests and human chains across the country, he added.
CAB General Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said though this holy Ramadan is a month for self-restraint, the evil syndicate looted millions of taka within a week by manipulating the market.
"Till date, no company or trader or their accomplices have been arrested for creating such anarchy in the market", he added.
General Secretary of CPB Ruhin Hossain Prince, Convener of Bangladesh General Citizen Society Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Chairman of Jatiya Tarun Sangh Md Fazlul Haque, among others, spoke on the occasion.
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