Staff Correspondent:

Director General (DG) of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (Grade-1) Mohammad Alim Akhtar Khan assured the public that there is no crisis of any product in the country, except for soybean oil.

The DG made the statement following his visit to the Kawran Bazar Kitchen Market on the occasion of Ramadan on Sunday.

“Currently, there is no shortage of any product other than soybean oil,” said Alim. “We are working to keep the public informed and at ease.”

Regarding the situation with soybean oil, he mentioned that it will take some time to assess whether the crisis lies at the wholesale or supply level.

“We will form an investigation committee to look into it. Only after the investigation will we be able to determine whether there is a real crisis,” he added.

The DG further explained that if there is adequate supply of soybean oil, it should ease concerns among consumers.

“We visited both retail and wholesale shops in Kawran Bazar today. After talking to the shopkeepers, we found that there is no shortage of any product except soybean oil. Prices are slightly lower this year compared to last year, but demand is higher during Ramadan, which makes it more difficult for shopkeepers to meet the increased demand,” Alim said.

He also highlighted the issue of bulk buying. “Retailers have reported that some customers are purchasing 20 litres of oil at once, which could create a shortage in the market.”

According to wholesalers, they have been receiving less soybean oil than usual. They are actively contacting the suppliers and working to normalize the supply.