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Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said that raids on retail and mid-level outlets have limited impact, as the main perpetrators behind market irregularities often escape accountability.
“Our goal is to protect consumers’ interests, not to restrict trade,” he said on Tuesday while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with edible oil delivery order (DO) traders at the commerce ministry, UNB reports.
The adviser emphasised that facilitating both domestic and international trade is the ministry’s core function, and it has been working sincerely to achieve that objective.
“As consumers ourselves, it’s only natural that my ministry and I will work in favour of consumer welfare,” he said, urging DO traders to cooperate and provide guidance in stabilising the market.
Warning that decisive measures will be taken to protect consumer rights, Bashir Uddin said such steps would be taken regardless of who they affect.
He said the traditional practice of controlling the edible oil market through raids at retail or mid-level shops has proven largely ineffective.
“The entire supply chain—from producers or importers to DO traders, wholesalers, and retailers—must come under regulatory oversight,” he said, adding that mill owners, DO traders, or both might be responsible for market instability.
“It’s unrealistic to think a small retailer hiding 500 bottles of oil under his counter is causing market chaos. TV channels may show dramatic footage of oil seizures, the public may applaud, but in reality, such drives achieve nothing. The small grocer is blamed while the real manipulators walk free,” the adviser said.
Bashir Uddin said the government will make sure no one can destabilise the edible oil market, and vowed to identify and act against the real offenders.
At the meeting, DO traders complained about not receiving products on time from mill owners and urged the ministry to resolve the issue.