Barisal, BDRunner: The district administration has given strict instructions not to sell watermelons at per kg rates in the markets of Barisal. At the same time, the sale of daily necessities at the price set by the government has been monitored. On Tuesday (March 19) from noon to afternoon, raids were conducted in the important markets of the city. Five companies have been fined eight thousand rupees for cheating buyers in the campaign. Field and market inspector of the Barisal Agricultural Marketing Officer’s office, Russell Khan, said that the fine was imposed by the Agricultural Products Marketing Act by conducting raids in Nathullabad Bazar, Chowmatha Bazar, Kashipur Bazar and Banglabazar areas.
He said we have been monitoring the market every day since the beginning of Ramadan. Recently, the government has fixed the prices of some products. They are being communicated to traders, and leaflets are being distributed. However, action will be taken as per the law if the traders do not follow the instructions.
Executive Magistrate Angching Marma said that there is a stable situation in the Barisal market due to daily market monitoring. Every day the mobile courts of the district administration are divided into different teams to monitor the market so that the buyers do not fall prey to fraud.
He said that till now I have seen products being sold in Barisal market at the price fixed by the government. Moreover, various traders have been warned not to buy watermelon by the piece and sell it by the kilogram. Action will be taken against those who defy the instructions if they buy watermelons in pieces and sell them in kilograms if they do not show the market price of the product.
The mobile court ordered various meat shops in the markets to sell meat at the price fixed by the government and to display the price list. Three teams of Barisal Metropolitan Police and RAB-8 were present in the operation.
Khairul Islam, a buyer of the Chowmatha market, said that as long as the mobile court team is there, it is sold at the right price in the market. As soon as the executive magistrate left, the shopkeepers again sold their goods as they wished. We are hostages to the shopkeepers.
Another buyer Rizia Parveen said, I bought watermelon at the rate of 80 taka per kg before the magistrate came. If I objected to selling at the kg rate, he informed me that he would not sell watermelons to me. When the magistrate comes, the beard hides and sells the watermelon as a piece. When the magistrate leaves, the situation is back.
