A file photo shows crates of eggs at Kawran Bazar in the capital Dhaka on Friday. — Focusbangla photo

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Md Jashim Uddin on Saturday urged to identify the dishonest traders who were involved in the recent egg market volatility.

He said, ‘Recently there has been instability on the egg market due to a few unscrupulous traders.’

Jashim urged to identify the dishonest traders to protect the image of the community, according to a press release.

He made the comments at the first meeting of the FBCCI standing committee on livestock, poultry and fisheries.

At the meeting, businesses sought policy support to minimise their production costs to ensure supply of eggs and meat at lower prices to consumers.

The committee members also demanded equal support to the livestock, poultry and fish farmers as the agriculture sector enjoys.

‘Poultry, cattle farms, fish and shrimp farms are paying electricity bills at commercial rates that raise the production costs,’ they said.

Jashim attended the event as the chief guest.

He said, ‘The government should provide utilities at a special rate to the livestock farms.’

‘Bangladesh needs to export $300 billion as a developed country by 2041, therefore, fish, shrimp and meat should be included in the export basket,’ he said.

Director-in-charge of the committee Salahuddin Alamgir, also vice-president of the FBCCI, said that like agriculture, a 5-per cent loan obligation for banks should be kept for the livestock sector.

He also demanded setting the dollar price at Tk 100 in the case of imports for livestock.

He also recommended the introduction of insurance policies at low premiums to protect the farmers.

Chairman of the committee and executive member of Feed Industries Association Bangladesh Md Moshiur Rahman called for strengthening the inter-ministerial coordination of government agencies.

‘Both the livestock department and BSTI monitor different categories of standards of farms. Farmers have to suffer due to lack of coordination and different sets of standards between the two organisations,’ he said.

Among others, FBCCI senior vice-president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu was also present in the meeting.