Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh on Sunday said the jump in the prices of onion by Tk 70-80 per kg overnight can’t be the work of any responsible businesspeople. 

He was speaking as a special guest at a programme organized to celebrate ‘National VAT Day’ at Agargaon's NBR Building in the capital.

“Businessmen should understand that business is for the people of the country. We don’t want them to do business without profit. But how can a product that costs Tk 120 a kg a day before sell at Tk 200 overnight,” he wondered.

There is no logic for the abnormal rise in the prices of onion just a day after India announced a ban on its export, he added.

Mentioning that the commerce ministry is mulling reducing the customs duty on daily necessities, the secretary said it has a direct relationship with the people. There is also a political factor.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul