Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed today said that stern action would be taken against any manipulation in essential commodity market during the holy month of Ramadan.“We’ve sufficient of essential commodities in stock and price is under acceptable level, but if any attempt of artificial crisis is initiated stern action would be taken,” he said.The minister today chaired the review meeting on supply and price of essential commodities with the traders, retailers and concerned officials ahead of Ramadan at his ministry office.Mentioning that more than the demand of commodities in market is remained in store, Tofail hoped price would be stayed within the purchasing capacity of common people.He said the government would also keep strong vigil on market to foil any manipulation in commodity market.The minister also told the traders that they would be given awards if the market is remained stable during the month of Ramadan.He said essential commodity laden truck would be prioritized on ferry service while instruction has been given to the law enforcement agencies to abstain from stopping any truck carrying commodities without specific complaint on highway.About the open market sale (OMS), Tofail Ahmed said TCB is fully prepared for the job. “We’ve collected pulse and gram from Australia for OMS with subsidiary price.”A total of 185 trucks, of which 33 trucks in Dhaka, 10 trucks in Chittagong, five trucks each in other divisional cities and two trucks each in district towns would sell the essential commodities through 2,811 dealers across the country.Replying to query regarding the possible strike of meat traders, the minister said they would sit with them immediately to solve the problems.Echoing the minister, Dhaka Metropolitan Meat Trader Association General Secretary Rabiul Alam said they wouldn’t go to strike as they are optimistic to solve the issue through discussion.He mentioned there is only permanent cattle market in Mirpur which is now situated in Dhaka North City Corporation and demanded to create another cattle market in Dhaka South City Corporation.Commerce secretary (In-charge) Shuvashish Bosu, additional secretaries Munsi Safiul Huq and Shafikul Islam, TCB chairman Brigadier General Abu Saleh M Golam Ambia, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection director general M Shafikul Islam Laskar, City Group chairman Fazlur Rahman, Meghna Group chairman Mustafa Kamal, T K Group general manager Shafiul Akter Taslim, S Alam Group senior general manager Kazi Salauddin and traders and representatives of different ministries, among others, attended the meeting.Source: BSS