On December 9, the price of soybean oil was increased by Tk. eight per liter to keep the supply in the market normal. Then on December 16, the government exempted duty on soybean oil from import, production and trade levels to keep the price affordable. Still, retailers complain that they are not getting the product as per demand. And the common people have become hostage to it.
On a visit to various markets in the capital, including Karwan Bazar, it was seen that soybean oil is available as per demand in some places, and not in others. In some places, shopkeepers are saying that there is no oil. Again, in some places, there are complaints of this edible oil being sold at an excessive price.
A seller at Karwan Bazar's Mayer Doa General Store said, we have no problem in supplying soybean oil here. We are getting what we want. The same was said by some other sellers at Karwan Bazar's Messrs. Bandhu Store, Laxmipur Store and others.
The truth of this was also found from a buyer named Abdur Rahman. He said that he bought two liters of soybean oil without any problem.
However, the picture is different in Mirpur, Banglamotor and Nawabpur in Old Dhaka. Retailers in these areas complain that sales representatives (SRs) are not coming like before. Even though they are taking orders, they are taking limited orders. Therefore, they are forced to collect oil from the wholesale market.
Ripon Mia, owner of Ripon Store in Petrol Pump Alley on Banglamotor New Eskaton Road, said, earlier SRs used to come every week to take orders, but if they did not want to take them, they would force them to give orders. But now we have to force them. Even then, they are not taking orders as per the demand.
Mofazzal Hossain, owner of Mohsin Store, said the same thing. He said, earlier they used to come for orders every day, but now SRs are not seen at all.
A retail shopkeeper in Sheorapara, Mirpur in the capital, without disclosing his name, said, the company's people are not coming regularly to take orders. So now there is a problem in getting oil. When we get oil, we are selling it.
Rajib Bepari expressed his anger at such a mess with oil. He has just completed his master's degree and is working in a private company. He lives in a mess so most of the time he has to buy soybean oil in 1 or 2 liter bottles. But he often has to face harassment for this.
Rajib Bepari said, I have not found any soybean oil in 1 liter bottles after visiting two/three shops. Last week too, I had to face such harassment. If the government cannot control the traders and break the syndicate, then what is the difference with the previous government? The government should take effective steps quickly on these issues.
SM Nazer Hossain, Vice President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said that since the government has given in to the traders, it has increased the price. However, as a condition for increasing the price, the supply of soybean oil in the market should be good.
He said, the traders demanded an increase in the price; the government increased the price by Tk. 8. But the government had the responsibility to ensure availability. Now the government is playing a silent role by doing nothing.
He also said that their (traders) activities seem to create more crisis. As the trade advisor said earlier, there is enough stock in the supply line. If there is a problem in the supply line, why does it take so long to fix it?
Warning the government, SM Nazer Hossain said that the government will have to look into the supply issues.
On December 9, the government increased the price of soybean oil by Tk. 8 per liter. As a result, bottled soybean oil is now being sold at Tk. 175 per liter. Unopened soybean oil is being sold at Tk. 157 per liter. Unopened palm oil has also increased from Tk. 149 to Tk. 157 per liter. In addition, the price of five liters of bottled soybean oil is now Tk. 860.