Human chain protesting the removal of edible oil from the market

Published: 08 April 2026 : The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Rangpur has formed a human chain to protest against the disappearance of edible oil from the market due to the manipulation of unscrupulous traders. The CAB has raised 5-point demands from the human chain to stop the syndicate.

The human chain was held at the city's Press Club premises on Wednesday (April 8) at 11 am.  The speakers at the human chain said that the instability and violence of syndicates in the edible oil market in the country have become clear again. The human chain report, in protest of recent media reports, has revealed that soybean oil is being sold at a higher price of 30 to 34 taka per liter, ignoring the price set by the government. Somewhere an artificial crisis of bottled oil is being created, while somewhere else an excessive price is being charged in the name of bulk oil. As a result, ordinary consumers are constantly being cheated and additional financial pressure is being created on them. However, although the price of bulk soybean oil at the government-set price is 185 taka and the price of bottled oil is 170 taka, in reality bottled oil is being sold in the market for up to 200 taka. In this way, about 30 taka per liter is being charged more than the fixed price. Similarly, bulk palm oil is also being sold at 168 taka instead of the fixed price of 162 taka. These data prove that there is a lack of effective supervision in the market and unscrupulous traders are controlling the market through syndicates.

Although the administration has talked about market supervision and price control to stop the syndicate, its effective reflection is not being seen in reality. Due to the lack of strict surveillance in the market and the failure to take immediate action against irregularities, this syndicate is becoming stronger.

The speakers also said that in many cases, oil is being stored and marketed in non-food grade drums, which is a serious threat to public health. Residues of chemicals previously used in these drums can mix with the oil and increase the risk of various complex diseases including cancer, liver and kidney diseases in the long term. As a result, consumers are forced to pay higher prices on the one hand, and on the other hand, they are forced to consume unsafe food.

At this time, CAB presented 5-point demands to stop the syndicate. The demands are: 1. The sale of edible oil at the price fixed by the government must be ensured immediately.

2. To identify syndicates active in the soybean oil market and ensure exemplary punishment against the perpetrators

Will be.

3. Regular and effective supervision and raids must be carried out in the market.

4. Strict legal measures must be taken against creating artificial crises and hoarding.

5. The storage and sale of oil in non-food grade drums should be stopped immediately. 6. The use of food-grade containers for edible oil should be made mandatory. The human chain was presided over by Abdur Rahman, President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh CAB Rangpur District, and was attended by Metropolitan CAB President Dilip Chandra Ghosh, General Secretary Joynul Abedin Mithu, District Senior Vice President Jasim Uddin, Journalist AHM Amirul Islam Raju, Metropolitan Vice President Hasan Ferdous Russell, Joint General Secretary Farhad Hasan, Treasurer Alam Ahmed, Executive Member Journalist Humayun Kabir Manik. Members of Rangpur District, Metropolitan and various Upazila CABs participated in the human chain.