Dhaka: With one year following the changeover of power after the fall of the fascist Hasina regime last year, the commodity market has seen a transformation, evolving into a more stable state amid ongoing reforms aimed at improving the ‘ease of doing business’ situation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, under the prudent leadership of the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the commodity market has experienced remarkable steadiness over the past year. This stability was particularly evident during the two major festivals of the Muslim Ummah, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, thanks to increased monitoring by relevant agencies, ensuring sufficient supply of commodities and curbing extortion at various levels, under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman stated, “I think the market situation is now much better compared to the same period last year. The market situation is now stable over the last 12 months while there is no such concern now.” He added that the government would continue to strengthen its monitoring efforts, alongside bolstering the operations of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), with hopes of further positive market impacts.
The Commerce Ministry has enhanced its market monitoring this year, deploying 28 teams compared to last year’s 12, to ensure stability, especially during high-demand periods like Ramadan. The ministry also conducted drives at the district and upazila levels to enforce market monitoring. More than 400 teams were vigilant this year, serving as a deterrent against commodity price hikes.
While there was a brief rice supply deficit from late June to early July, Rahman noted that the situation has since improved. The TCB’s coverage has been expanding, benefiting around one crore family cardholders, with smart card initiatives supported by authorities and district administrations to aid families lacking smartphones.
Reforms in trade and commerce over the past year have focused on improving the ‘ease of doing business.’ Amendments to the import policy order and minimization of certificate and permit requirements are underway. Rahman revealed plans to establish commercial courts, initially in Dhaka and divisional levels, to address business-related issues.
Progress has also been made in signing bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, with recent agreements with Bhutan and ongoing negotiations with Japan, Indonesia, and the UAE. Efforts are also underway to strike bilateral agreements with potential countries like the USA, Canada, EU, Nigeria, and Australia.
Despite global challenges, Bangladesh’s export volume is increasing, with successful tariff negotiations with the USA led by Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin. Efforts to address the price disparity between wholesale and retail markets are ongoing, with meetings held across various ministries.
General Economics Division Member Dr. Monzur Hossain highlighted the need for government attention to the rising rice price despite a bumper Boro production. FBCCI Administrator Md Hafizur Rahman acknowledged the initial instability post-Hasina regime but credited coordinated efforts for the gradual market stabilization.
The steady improvement in the commodity market’s stability over the last year is reflected in inflation trends. In July 2024, Bangladesh’s general point-to-point inflation hit a 12-year high at 11.66 percent, driven by a surge in food inflation. However, by June 2025, the food inflation rate had significantly declined to 7.39 percent, with non-food inflation also showing a downward trend. Both rural and urban areas experienced a decline in point-to-point inflation last month.