Ramadan
With no easing of price hike, tough times for people in Khulna as Ramadan begins Friday
The price hike of daily essentials has put the people in Khulna district, especially low-income families, under pressure ahead of Ramadan, the holy month that will begin from Friday.
Prices of essential commodities including pulses, chickpea, puffed rice, flattened rice, edible oil, sugar, onion, garlic, potato, dates, fruits and other items used for iftar have already seen a rise, but some traders say the market is “normal” compared to the previous year.
Low-income people are worried about meeting their daily needs.
During a recent visit to markets in Khulna city, including Moilapota, Dakbungalow, New Market, Chitrali and Doulatpur areas, UNB’s correspondent noted sky-rocketing price of dates, an item generally consumed during iftar, is forcing many to buy in far less amount compared to previous years.
Also read: How the record hike in fuel prices manifested in Dhaka’s kitchen markets
One kg of Ambar dates is being sold at Tk 1500 while the price of one kg Ajwa dates is Tk 1000, Mariam dates is Tk 900, Sukkari dates is Tk 750, Medjool (big) dates is Tk 1300.
Unripe dates are being sold at Tk 500 per kg.
Besides, one kg of green apple is being sold at Tk 320-350, Fuji apple Tk 260-300 per kg, pomegranate Tk 350-400 per kg, orange Tk 220 per kg and malta at 220 per kg.
Meanwhile, five litres of edible oil is being sold at Tk 900, two litres of edible oil is being sold at Tk 370, one kg of local pulses is being sold at Tk 140, chickpeas Tk 85, sugar Tk 115, potato Tk 25, chickpea powder Tk 110, puffed rice half kg packets being sold at Tk 70, flattened rice Tk 60-65, onion Tk 35, and garlic Tk 100 per kg.
Also read: Spice prices shoot up ahead of Eid despite sufficient stock
Mainul Islam, who works at a private company, said, “Prices of daily essentials are usually hiked before Ramadan begins, but this year the situation is unbearable. One kg of chicken is being sold at Tk 250 while beef at Tk 700. How can I meet the daily needs of my family with my salary that hasn’t gone up to match these prices?”
Prices of vegetables have also increased. None was below Tk 50-60 per kg, he said.
Mamun, a roadside vendor, said, “Every year, my family and I fast during Ramadan. This year, it’ll be difficult for us to have meat with rice.”
Meanwhile, price of bananas — that are eaten during iftar and sehri — has also gone up. One dozen medium sized bananas are being sold at Tk 80-120 while large bananas are being sold at Tk 140-150 per dozen.
Recently, the government asked deputy commissioners to monitor markets strictly during the month of Ramadan and take legal measures if necessary.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked all to be vigilant against the hoarding of foods and the black-marketing of these commodities during the holy month.
For the first time, London’s West End lights up for Ramadan
For the first time in UK, West End district of London has been lit up with 30,000 lights to mark the holy month of Ramadan.
Coventry Street, which links Leicester Square with Piccadilly, is illuminated with "Happy Ramadan”, BBC reports.
London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan, one of the 1.3 million Muslims in the capital of United Kingdom celebrating Ramadan, switched on the lights.
The installation was created by Ayshea Desai, who was motivated by her love of Christmas lights, according to BBC.
Read More: UNICEF launching first large-scale fundraising campaign in Bangladesh this Ramadan
She said: "I just had the ambition to do it like the Christmas lights.”
"I remembered going to visit the Christmas lights with my sister when I was growing up and I also had an opportunity to live in the Middle East and I wanted to bring that joy and magic to London, the city that I'm from," she told BBC.
Desai began the project three years ago.
"It looks incredible, I'm so overwhelmed with the response," she said.
Read More: Muslim authorities say Ramadan fasting to begin Thursday
"I wanted to raise that awareness as well to let our neighbours know that this is a really important month for us, it's my favourite month of the year and I'm just grateful that we're here today."
According to BBC, a public Iftar will be organized at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, where a temporary mosque and Ramadan pavilion have been constructed for Muslims and non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, Chelsea football club will also organize open Iftar at the side of the pitch at Stamford Bridge, in what will be a first for the club and a Premier League stadium.
Wembley stadium will do the same later in the month, BBC reported.
Read More: Ministry to sell meat, eggs at lower prices in Dhaka during Ramadan
UNICEF launching first large-scale fundraising campaign in Bangladesh this Ramadan
This Ramadan, UNICEF is launching a large-scale campaign to raise funds for malnourished children in Bangladesh.
For the first time, the fundraising campaign is taking place inside Bangladesh, appealing to the growing affluent class who are more able to donate towards helping children in their own country.
With a strong economy, Bangladesh reached lower-middle-income country status in 2015 and aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2031.
At the same time, the country’s economic progress and success mean that Bangladesh receives less foreign aid.
Read More: Multiple crises set to plunge more children into poverty, ILO and UNICEF report warns
“The economic progress in Bangladesh has created enhanced opportunities for us to take care of the underprivileged section of our population and to ensure that we leave no one behind. The success of Bangladesh needs to be reflected through the children, who are our future and who also depend on us for their education, healthcare and well-being,” said Masud Bin Momen, Foreign Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh.
UNICEF – which is funded entirely through voluntary contributions – has been on the ground in Bangladesh for over 70 years, saving children’s lives and protecting children’s rights. Globally, UNICEF has helped save more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization.
The UNICEF Ramadan fundraising campaign is a first-ever invitation from UNICEF to people in Bangladesh to let their good deeds echo for malnourished children around the country together with UNICEF.
Read More: UNICEF wants investment in world's first child-focused climate risk financing solution
The most common forms of malnutrition are stunting (low height for age) or wasting (low weight for height). Bangladesh has made impressive progress in addressing malnutrition. Stunting was reduced from 42 per cent in 2013 to 28 per cent in 2019. Yet, over five million Bangladeshi children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition.
Stunting is caused by chronic or recurring undernutrition, and the damage done to a child’s body and brain by stunting cannot be reversed. It drags down performance at school and later at work, and puts a child at a higher risk of dying from infectious diseases.
Wasting is an acute form of undernourishment which can be fatal. It is characterized by recent and severe weight loss which is often caused by lack of food and by disease.
Children born to the poorest families are more likely to suffer from stunting and wasting. And when disasters such as floods strike, these already vulnerable children are at heightened risk.
Read More: Heatwaves to impact almost every child by 2050: UNICEF report
“There is no greater cause than championing children’s health, education and rights. This Ramadan, UNICEF invites the people of Bangladesh to join hands with UNICEF to help the most vulnerable children in their own country,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
Ministry to sell meat, eggs at lower prices in Dhaka during Ramadan
Meat, eggs, and milk will be sold at lower prices in Dhaka from March 23, and it will continue till the 28th of Ramadan.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will sell meat, eggs, and milk at 20 points in Dhaka to meet public demand during the holy month of Ramadan, Iftekhar Hossain, public relations officer of the ministry, told UNB.
Read More: Have enough stock, no scope of price hike during Ramadan: Tipu
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim will launch the sale of these items -- beef, mutton, dressed broiler chicken, milk, and eggs -- formally at a function in Dhaka on Thursday.
The Department of Livestock will conduct the sales. However, prices of the items are yet to be fixed, he added.
These essential items will be sold at "cheaper prices" to facilitate households' protein intake throughout Ramadan, Iftekhar Hossain added.
Read More: If people don’t buy in excess, there will be no price hike of essentials ahead of Ramadan: Tipu Munshi
Sales of halal fragrance, prayer rugs and beads picking up in anticipation of Ramadan
The sale of religious books, halal fragrance ator, prayer rugs, and other items associated with Islam has increased exponentially ahead of Ramadan, on the premises of National Mosque Baitul Mukarram and other mosques in the capital.
Prayer rugs, tasbihs and surma from Turkey, India, Pakistan and Iran are selling at different rates. A Turkish prayer rug is selling for upto Tk 5000, while Indian, Irani and Pakistani products price are similar.
People can buy a jainamaz (prayer rug) at Tk100 to 1000 of domestic and Chinese quality, Tasbih at Tk 50 to Tk500, Ator Tk100 to 8000 based on quality.
However, prices of all the products are higher compared to the previous years. The traders are concerned over price hikes of other goods, which may impact people's purchase of religious products.
Raju Mia, a street vendor of Baitul Mukarram South gate told UNB that the business situation is not good this year so far. On average their sale is around Tk3000 which rose to Tk5000 to 8000 on Friday. His 6-member family depends on this small business, Raju said.
Read: Commerce, Home ministries coordinating govt's tough stance on price gouging ahead of Ramadan
Every Ramadan, Raju makes a handsome profit by selling these products, which helps him to maintain his family smoothly.
The street vendors told this correspondent that usually wholesalers supplied these items as per orders.
The Mitford area of old Dhaka is the wholesale market of Ator while Baitul Mukarram is another hub of Jainamaz, Surma and Tasbih supply, Muntasir said.
Youth Masud Miaji, who arrived at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram told UNB, “I use Ator regularly, not just because the fasting month is coming. There is a thing about fragrance. Actually I don't use the other perfumes available in the market. They contain alcohol. As I always pray, I put on Ator.”
Showing a bottle he just purchased, he said, “I always use this one flavor and brand of Ator. I used to buy it for Tk100. Then it was Tk130 and but now I bought it for Tk170.”
"In fact, the price of everything is increasing. What else would the shopkeepers do?" Masud said, justifying the price hike.
Tupi (skull caps) seller Nazer Uddin said that he has been in this business for 20 years. His shop is at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis
Styles ranging from Jali (netted) to Omani and Pakistani brands are available, ranging in price from Tk50 to Tk500 per piece.
Though the traders could not provide a clear or reliable estimate of the business volume of these products in terms of value, most of them think it is annually not less than Tk100 crore.
As Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country, half the annual sales occur during the month of Ramadan, they said.
Commerce, Home ministries coordinating govt's tough stance on price gouging ahead of Ramadan
This year's Ramadan is still a couple of days away, but a segment of traders already appears eager to increase profit margins by raising the prices of different commodities.
The government of Bangladesh however claims to be on to them, and has taken various initiatives to keep the market stable during the holy month.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed officials to increase surveillance across the country so that dishonest businessmen cannot make excessive profits. She particularly instructed the field-level administration to be on alert. The Commerce Ministry has said it will keep an eye on the traders so they cannot destabilize the market by creating any artificial crisis.
Even detectives from the law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry have been instructed to keep their eyes open so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create an artificial crisis in Ramadan.
Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis
In the past, it was noticed that traders increased the prices of goods several times before the start of market supervision ahead of Ramadan. Just before Ramadan, the demand for items like edible oil, sugar, pulses, chickpeas, spices, and so on increases. Traders take this opportunity and raise the prices of in-demand items. It is no different this time.
“Ramadan is a few days away. Like last year, I have bought sugar, pulses, and chickpeas at a much higher price. Every year the same thing happens. There is also an upswing in the vegetable market,” Wahid Fakir, a resident of Bhatara New Market, told UNB.
The prices of sugar, oil, ginger, onion, and other essential goods have all increased in the last week. Vegetables, fish, and meat prices are also going up. Although there is also no shortage of edible oil in the market, daily essentials are selling at an increased price rate every week.
"This year we are already on alert from before. No one will be spared, if there is an artificial crisis in the market. We, the local administration, including the law enforcement agencies, and consumer rights protection directorate, will continue to monitor the market with mobile courts,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told UNB.
Read: People forced to return home with bags half full due to higher prices of chicken, meat, fish
“As preparation for Ramadan, I have had meetings with businessmen one to two months ago. That's when we asked them to increase imports. In particular, instructions have been given so that the banks open the LCs quickly for the import of food products,” he said.
“The government has taken all kinds of necessary initiatives to keep the prices of goods under control during Ramadan. We have warned the traders about the preparations in advance this year. Controlling commodity prices was a challenging affair at this time of global crisis and rise in dollar rate,” he also said.
“Despite this, dollars have been provided for import of all food products commonly used in Ramadan. Besides, the ministry has requested the NBR to reduce the duty and VAT to reduce the prices of commodities like sugar and edible oil,” said the minister. “In addition, we are taking several other programmes to control the prices of goods during Ramadan. Apart from the family card allocated for 1 crore families, sugar and chickpeas will be sold in truck-sales in Dhaka and divisional cities. NBR has also extended the time for import of rice by three more months."
“Hopefully, the prices of goods will be stable during Ramadan. The government's preparation in this regard is good enough,” added Tipu Munshi.
Read More: Have enough stock, no scope of price hike during Ramadan: Tipu
Asked about the role of law enforcement agencies in keeping the market stable during Ramadan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, "The law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent the rise in the prices of goods.”
“Detectives have already been instructed to keep an eye so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create any artificial crisis around Ramadan and make the market unstable. Several strict steps have been taken, including conducting mobile courts, to control the prices of consumer goods by suppressing syndicates,” he said.
“Various strategies are being formulated to prevent artificial crises in the market and to take action against those who stockpile goods. Along with the police, the law enforcement agencies and consumer rights department, including RAB, will be active in the field, the intelligence surveillance will also be increased,” he also said.
Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “If there is an abnormal situation in the market, we can enforce the law. Every deputy commissioner has been told about this. They will monitor it very strictly. We will also monitor from here.”
Read More: Make marginal profit in Ramadan, Munshi urges businessmen
Have enough stock, no scope of price hike during Ramadan: Tipu
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said the government has enough stock of daily commodities and there is no scope of hike in their prices during the holy month of Ramadan.
"We've got sufficient oil, sugar, chickpeas, and other essential commodities in stock. There’s no scope to increase prices,” he told reporters after a meeting of Task Force committee on commodity prices and market monitoring at the commerce ministry on Sunday.
He said the government has taken all necessary measures to keep the prices of essential goods under control during Ramadan.
Also Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis
The minister said the government is working to keep the prices of eggplant, cucumber, lemon, and chicken under control during the holy month.
“Meetings at various levels have been held in the past 15 days to keep the prices of Ramadan goods under control,” he said.
He also mentioned strict vigilance has been ensured to prevent extortion during the transportation of these products.
Also Read: If people don’t buy in excess, there will be no price hike of essentials ahead of Ramadan: Tipu Munshi
“No extortion will be tolerated on roads and highways during Ramadan,” he said.
He also said onion price is now at tolerable level and imports have been slowed down a little bit to give farmers a fair price.
Also Read: During holy Ramadan, some profit-mongers hike prices and cause public sufferings: PM
He said that the market will be closely monitored during Ramadan.
“Some may attempt to take advantage of the situation. Anyone who will try to take advantage will face consequences,” he added.
Ramadan Preparation Checklist: Tips to prepare for the holy month
The holy month of Ramadan starts with the appearance of the new moon and brings blessings to Muslims worldwide. Greeting each other with Ramadanul Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem, Muslims welcome this month. Fasting begins with Sahur and ends with Iftar. As devoted Muslims fast for 29-30 days continuously, they need to take some preparations for Ramadan. Let’s find out some tips to prepare for Ramadan.
Ramadan's Meaning and significance
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is very promising and holy. The holy Quran is the supreme religious scripture for Muslims in Islam. Muslims believe this holy book is a revelation from Allah (God). According to the holy Quran, Fasting (Roza) during Ramadan is mandatory for each adult and healthy Muslim.
According to Islam, fasting or Roza is the practice of abstaining from all kinds of foods, drinks, smoking, and sexual activity for some period. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting or Roza every day from dawn (before the Fazr prayer) to the Maghrib prayer time. And, the Muslim devotees will be rewarded by almighty Allah for enduring the pain of thirst and hunger during fasting.
Read More: Ready for Ramadan? How to Prepare Your Body for Fasting?
In Ramadan, besides fasting, Muslims offer prayers to Allah in Salat, read passages from the holy Quran, donate to charity, and maintain a good lifestyle.
10 Useful Tips to Prepare For Holy Ramadan
Finish All Pending Fasts
If anyone has any pending fast which was missed in the previous Ramadan, she or he needs to complete that first. When someone is unable to complete the pending fastings due to some reasons like pregnancy, travel, sickness, etc., then it is imperative for that person to pay Fidyah as compensation for not fasting.
Fidya or Fidyah system is a kind of donation that must be paid through feeding the poor for not making up fasts missed in the last Ramadan on time.
Create a Ramadan To-Do List
As preparation for Ramadan, an individual can write down everything he or she needs to do for his or her own self or own family. The list can also include things he or she wishes to do for needy people. The checklist may include plans for donation, shopping, food processing, cleaning, etc.
Read More: Ramadan 2023: Govt sets office timing from 9 am to 3:30 pm
Processing of Raw Food Ingredients
During cooking diverse kinds of ingredients are applied like onion paste, ginger paste, chili paste, etc. These raw ingredients can be preserved in the freezer for months. Preparations of these raw ingredients at home need time and effort. Making this preparation in advance can save an individual valuable time and energy during fasting hours.
Maintain Nutritious Diet
During the holy month of Ramadan, devoted Muslims fast (Roza) from dawn to dusk. Fasting throughout the whole of Ramadan is a challenge for both mind and body. It is essential to maintain a well-balanced diet before and during Ramadan.
Maintaining a balanced diet can help to keep blood sugar normal and supply energy. Consulting with a doctor or nutritionist, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, eggs, nuts, etc should be added to the regular diet to prepare the body for Ramadan fasting.
Read More: Lessons of Ramadan: What does the holy month teach us?
Donate Clothes and Goods
Ramadan is the month when many devoted Muslims do charity which is a great way to help others. It would be nice to arrange clothes and other items for donation and start the holy month with a little act of kindness.
Make marginal profit in Ramadan, Munshi urges businessmen
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday urged businessmen to make marginal profit during the month of Ramadan considering people’s sufferings.
The minister advised the common people to cross-check and shop without stepping into the trap of lucrative advertisements.
Munshi said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) on the occasion of 'World Consumer Rights Day 2023' at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Agargaon on Wednesday.
Taking into account the suffering of the people, the Commerce Minister asked the businessmen, "There are various discount systems in different countries of the world during various festivals. They make little (profit).”
“In Bangladesh the situation is different, the holy month of Ramadan is ahead. Be a bit more moderate. Keep prices reasonable in this month, less profit margin less,” he added.
The minister also said: “Consumer rights are human rights. When we can inform consumers about all their rights, half of our work will be done. Consumer awareness is very important.”
The government is working on this, he said.
Munshi urged people not to buy products in a rush during Ramadan. “Once you buy a product a plenty, it affects the market, and then the traders take it as an opportunity to hike price abnormally.”
The President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh Golam Rahman in his speech called for strengthening the government's steps to reduce the unequal competition in the market as well as the necessary reform of the legal framework and to be proactive in its implementation.
Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, FBCCI vice president Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, DG of DNCRP AHM Shafiquzzaman, TCB Chairman Ariful Hasan, First Director General of Consumer Affairs, Department Abul Hossain Mia, Competition Commission Chairperson Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, among others, were present at the function.
Munshi also distributed prizes among the winners of the Essay Competition organised on the National Consumer Rights Day.
Field-level police officers instructed to monitor markets ahead of Ramadan
Field level police officers have been instructed to regularly monitor markets to prevent any abnormal increase in prices during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
They have also been instructed to take necessary steps to ensure that no one creates any untoward situation by spreading rumors about price hike, short supplies, etc.
The directives were given from a virtual meeting on monthly crime review held at the police headquarters on Tuesday with Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Md. Atiqul Islam in the chair.
All Metropolitan Police Commissioners, Range DIGs and District Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Bangladesh Police participated in the meeting virtually. Among others, DIG (Operations) Md Haider Ali Khan and concerned officials of police headquarters were present at the virtual meeting.
Also Read: Govt orders DCs to strictly monitor markets during Ramadan
Information regarding the overall crime situation of the country in the month of January 2023 was also presented in the meeting, says AIG (media) of the police headquarters Md Manzur Rahman.
During the meeting, importance was given on taking precautionary measures and increasing police activity so that no group can create any kind of conspiracy by exploiting the communal issue. District and highway police were instructed to jointly perform their duties to prevent all types of extortion to ensure the transportation of essential goods during the month of holy Ramadan.
In his address, Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Md. Atiqul Islam gave instructions to make preparations from now on to make the Eid journeys of the homebound people smooth during the coming Eid.
He also directed the field level police officers to remove illegal structures on both sides on the highway and take necessary action against unfit vehicles.
The meeting review of the statistics of various cases placed in the meeting shows that in the month of January 2023, there was a decrease in the total number of registered cases, robbery cases, murder cases, rape cases, women and children abuse cases compared to the previous month of December 2022.