Consumer rights body Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Saturday placed a seven-point demand to the government, expressing serious concern over what it described as abnormal and sustained price hikes of sugar, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and edible oil, which it said have triggered widespread frustration, anxiety and anger among general consumers.

In a statement, CAB alleged that an influential group has been destabilising the sugar market by creating artificial shortages at the import, mill-level production and supply stages through syndication and supply control.

It said unjustified price hikes are also being imposed in the LPG, soybean oil and palm oil markets, directly increasing the daily cost of living for ordinary people. CAB strongly condemned the unreasonable price hikes of essential commodities and demanded immediate action against those involved.

According to the organisation, sugar prices were relatively stable just a week ago, but wholesale prices have suddenly surged, while retail prices have increased by Tk 10 per kg.

CAB attributed the hike mainly to the effective halt in white sugar imports and the creation of an artificial crisis by citing production and supply shortfalls at mill level. It alleged that traders have once again resorted to manipulation ahead of Ramadan, following a recurring pattern of raising sugar prices before the holy month.

CAB also noted that soybean and palm oil prices have risen by Tk 5 to Tk 10 per litre in recent weeks. Citing Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, it said retail prices of bottled soybean oil have increased by 12.85 percent over the past year. While international market conditions are often cited to justify price hikes, CAB observed that similar urgency or initiative is absent when prices fall, forcing consumers to bear one-sided price pressures.

On LPG, CAB said there is no valid justification for the recent price hikes or the reported shortages. It alleged that some unscrupulous traders are charging far above government-set rates on the pretext of rising demand, with possible manipulation by importers and their distributors.

Since the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) only fixes prices without ensuring enforcement, traders routinely ignore official rates, a practice that has effectively become the norm, it said.

CAB believes that taking advantage of administrative preoccupations ahead of Ramadan and upcoming occasions, dishonest traders and syndicates are deliberately manipulating the LPG, sugar and edible oil markets. It said the current price hikes have no reasonable alignment with actual supply conditions or international prices, reflecting weak market management and a lack of effective monitoring.

If markets for essential commodities such as LPG, sugar and edible oil are left in the hands of syndicates, CAB warned, consumers’ purchasing power will be severely eroded and public confidence in the market system will weaken further.

To address the situation, CAB placed seven demands before the government:

1. Verify actual data on sugar production, stock and supply at mill level and identify those creating artificial shortages.

2. Take exemplary legal action against syndicates and hoarders in the sugar and edible oil markets.


3. Ensure reasonable alignment between international prices, import costs and domestic retail prices of edible oil.

4. Strengthen administrative intervention to reduce unjustified gaps between wholesale and retail prices.

5. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources should ensure effective coordination among district administrations, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and law enforcement agencies to enforce LPG sales at government-fixed prices.

6. Strengthen monitoring of LPG importers and their distributors regarding stock, supply and retail sales.

7. Ensure that market monitoring of essential commodities does not lose priority at district and upazila levels due to elections or any other pretext, through clear directives from the highest level of government.

CAB said failure to take immediate, strict and coordinated measures could worsen the ongoing volatility in markets for sugar, LPG cylinders and other essentials, and expressed hope that the government would act swiftly to ensure fair prices and relief for consumers.