Govt will use Special Powers Act against food market syndicates: Law minister

The BNP government will use the "Special Powers Act" to disband the syndicates and hoarders in food markets, said Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday.

The covetous traders, middlemen and hoarders could face the maximum death penalty under the act, and therefore, should avoid continuing their influence in food supply chain, the minister warned.

The law minister made the remark after visiting the onion and jute wholesale market in Shailkupa upazila, Jhenidah on Tuesday.

Due to the influence of syndicates, farmers often do not get fair price for their produce.

Each farmer has to pay with additional produce to sale a maund of onion or jute in a wholesale market. There are multiple recipient groups, including wholesalers, cleaners and third genders, each demanding their share of toll.

At the end of the day, each farmer has to pay additional seven kilograms of produce for selling 37 kilograms, the law minister said.

The government will work to diminish the influence of all the different covetous groups in a wholesale market, and ensure that the marginal farmers can profit from their sale.

All the wholesale markets have already been instructed to this end, and the violators will face no leniency, the law minister warned.

Some wholesalers are threatening to leave the trade if they are prevented from collected toll or additional produce from farmers, the minister noted.

Addressing these traders, Md Asaduzzaman said, “You can leave the market if you want to. Other traders will automatically take your place.”