Commodity prices now normal!

Two ministers of the cabinet have claimed that the commodity prices in kitchen market are now normal following various government initiatives.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Food Minister Qamrul Islam made the claim on Monday while replying to questions from lawmakers in the parliament.

Tofail said the prices of rice and onion have become normal gradually in the market.

He, however, admitted that the rice price increased as flood damaged crops in the northern and Haor areas.

"It is not true that the price did not fall," he said replying to a supplementary question from lawmaker Shubid Ali Bhuiyan of Comilla-1 constituency.

Mentioning different steps taken to reduce the rice price, the Commerce Minister said the rice price was fixed at Tk 39 per kilogram.

About the onion price, he said onion is imported from India and this year the onion production saw fall due to flood there.

The onion price was above Tk 100 per kilogram in the country's market, which now came down at Tk 55-60.

"The prices of rice and onion have come down at normal level gradually," Tofail said.

Meanwhile, Food Minister Qamrul Islam told the parliament that prices of food grains remain static in the country's market.

The food prices reduced with the fall in food prices in the international market, the minister said while replying to a question from lawmaker Lutfa Taher (Reserved Seat-40), says UNB.

"The price of a kilogram rice declined by Tk 4-7, while the price of atta (flour) is now at the lowest level," he said.

Prices of various commodities marked unusual rise throughout the last year.