In some cases, the prices were doubled even though the government has been repeatedly assuring people that there is enough in stock.
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection conducted a drive at such a shop that was charging extra price from customers at Shyambazar in the capital and fined the shop owner Tk 20,000.
Manzur Shariar, deputy director at the divisional office of DNCR, said he conducted the drive and fined the owner of Faisal Enterprise.
“The trader was selling each kg of ginger at Tk 235, much higher than the purchase rate. We imposed the fine and asked him to sell each kg ginger at Tk 120 as per recommendation of the importer,” he said.
Apart from this, three shops were fined different amounts during the drive.
The government declared a general holiday from March 26 to tackle the transmission of coronavirus and later extended it to May 5. During this period, the government shut down all non-essential services, transports and urged the people to stay indoors.
Also read: No need for panic buying due to coronavirus: Food Minister
However, emergency supplies and transport of essential items have remained almost unaffected. But traders in many places took this opportunity to raise prices of goods that were already in their stock.