Prices of corona protective equipment increased in Jashore , no supervision
James Abdur Rahim Rana, Jashore
Corona infection has been seen again in the country. In the last three days, three corona-infected patients have died while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Jessore General Hospital. In this situation, the district health department is advising mandatory use of masks to prevent corona infection.
After a long time, many are again inclined to buy masks. However, common people are having to be disappointed while buying masks and sanitizers. Traders have increased the price of masks by 80 to 100 taka per box on the pretext of supply crisis. Buyers are expressing anger over the increase in the price of masks by creating an artificial crisis.
Traders say that the price of masks was stable for a long time. Now, with the sudden increase in demand for masks, we are not getting masks from companies at the previous price. They are not supplying us even half of the masks we demand. Meanwhile, not only masks, but also hand sanitizers are not available in many stores. Many shopkeepers are also complaining that they are returning sanitizers to customers saying they do not want them in the hope of selling them at a higher price. What is available is also being bought at double the price.
On Friday, it was found that shops selling surgical products and various pharmacies in Dadatana and Chitra More in the city increased the prices of protective equipment including masks due to the new corona infection in the country. Before Eid, masks that were sold for 80 to 90 taka per box in the Jessore market are now being sold for 180 to 200 taka.
Omar Faruk of Sina Medical Store in Mikepatti area of Jessore city said that the price of masks has suddenly increased due to the increase in the infection of coronavirus. If the supply is not good, the price may increase further. And hand sanitizers are not available even after ordering. They have learned through company representatives that they are being produced and are meeting the demand of Dhaka. For now, they are not coming to the district town.
Rizvi Hossain, a salesperson at Life Surgical in Daratana, said, "The prices of hand sanitizers and face masks have suddenly increased. Earlier, we used to buy wholesale masks for 50-55 taka. We used to sell wholesale for 80-90 taka. Now we have to buy wholesale for 80-90 taka. That too is not available. The reality is that when the demand for a product suddenly increases, the manufacturing companies also have to struggle to supply the products. But the common people hold the businessmen to account.
Nabakumar, the owner of Bichitra Surgical at BCDS Medicine Market in Mikepatti, said the same thing. He said that the companies are not able to supply corona protection products. The price of the little that is coming is also high. We have to buy at a higher price. Due to this, the selling price has also increased.
A few buyers named Enamul Hasan, Kamruzzaman and Sohan Hossain came to Bangabazar at Chitra More in the city yesterday to buy hand sanitizers and masks. They said that the prices of masks, which have been increased since the outbreak of Corona, were bought at a lower price. If traders make a profit of 100 taka on each box, then this should be called anarchy.
There is a limit to profit. So the administration should pay attention to this. In this regard, Jessore Civil Surgeon Dr. Masud Rana said that they will look into the issue of the increase in the price of Corona protective equipment and take necessary measures.
