Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin has stated that raids on retail and mid-level shops have a limited impact on curbing market irregularities, as the key players behind price manipulation often remain unscathed.

“Our goal is to protect consumers’ interests, not to restrict trade,” the adviser said at a views-exchange meeting with edible oil delivery order (DO) traders at the commerce ministry, reports UNB.

He stressed that facilitating both domestic and international trade is central to the ministry’s mandate, and reaffirmed his commitment to consumer welfare. “As consumers ourselves, it’s only natural that my ministry and I will work in favour of consumer welfare,” he said, urging DO traders to assist the government in stabilising the market.

Bashir Uddin warned that decisive measures would be taken to safeguard consumer rights, regardless of whom they affect. He criticised the long-standing practice of focusing enforcement on smaller traders.

“It’s unrealistic to think a small retailer hiding 500 bottles of oil is causing market chaos,” he said. “Such raids make headlines, but the real manipulators—often mill owners or DO traders—remain beyond reach.”

He called for regulatory oversight of the entire supply chain, from producers and importers to wholesalers and retailers, to ensure accountability and prevent price manipulation.

At the meeting, DO traders complained that they often fail to receive timely product deliveries from mill owners and urged the ministry to intervene.