Staff Correspondent
A first-of-its-kind initiative by the Chattogram district administration to reduce the prices of essential commodities during Eid-ul-Azha has drawn widespread praise from business leaders, government officials and law enforcement agencies, with many calling for the model to be replicated across the country.
Launched under the slogan “Prices will fall during festivals, joy will rise,”
the Festive Sale campaign challenged the long-standing practice of price hikes during major religious festivals. Led by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian, the initiative encouraged businesses to offer essential goods at reduced prices, aiming to ease consumers’ financial burden during Eid.
Speakers made the remarks at a recognition ceremony held at the Chattogram Circuit House on Saturday, honouring businesses, government agencies, law enforcement personnel and media representatives who contributed to the successful implementation of the programme.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin attended the event as chief guest, while Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian presided over the programme.
Addressing the event, Dr Ziauddin said Bangladesh was perhaps witnessing, for the first time, businesses being officially recognised for lowering commodity prices instead of raising them.
“This is more than a ceremony; it marks the beginning of a new culture,” he said, adding that if the initiative continues in the coming years, the deputy commissioner will be remembered as its pioneer.
Commander of Rapid Action Battalion-7 Lt Col Md Hafizur Rahman said every successful initiative requires someone to take the first step.
“Because the DC took that initiative, we are all here today celebrating its success. This model should be expanded to every district and upazila across the country,” he said.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Amirul Islam said the initiative brought together the administration and the business community on a common platform for public welfare, creating an important example for the future.
Police Superintendent Chaulau Marma of the DIG Range Office said markets could not be regulated through enforcement alone.
“Meaningful change comes when businesses act out of responsibility towards the public. The DC’s initiative has laid that foundation,” he said.
Deputy Director of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Nurul Haque said the district administration’s swift coordination during a shortage of imported ginger at Khatunganj demonstrated how effective cooperation among government agencies could quickly resolve market disruptions.
Assistant Commissioner of Chattogram Custom House Imran Hossain said customs authorities expedited the release of 41 containers of imported ginger following a request from the deputy commissioner, helping stabilise the market.
Eastern Zone Coast Guard Commander Abu Nesar Saleh Ahmed said the Coast Guard had worked continuously to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods and would continue supporting similar public-interest initiatives.
Ansar and Village Defence Party representative Ismail Hossain described the DC as a humane administrator who had now set another benchmark through the festival discount programme. He urged the administration to continue similar initiatives during other national festivals.
Abu Haider, a director of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the programme represented the first formal recognition of businesses for their positive role in stabilising market prices.
Representatives from participating retailers also shared their experiences. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said his supermarket reduced the prices of 87 Eid-related products, while Mostafizur Rahman of Khulshi Mart said his outlet offered discounts ranging from five to 47 percent on 83 products, receiving a positive response from consumers.
In his closing remarks, DC Zahidul Islam said no system could endure through authority or coercion alone.
“A culture survives for generations only when people embrace it as a value,” he said.
He described the Festive Sale campaign as more than a price reduction programme, saying it was an effort to promote ethical business practices, social responsibility and public welfare.
Highlighting Chattogram’s importance as Bangladesh’s commercial hub, he said any positive business culture established in the city would eventually influence the rest of the country.
He also rejected the perception that Chattogram’s business community operated through syndicates.
“The success of this programme has shown that our business community values integrity, prioritises public interest and considers business a social responsibility,” he said.
The DC revealed that the idea of offering festival discounts had first come to him while serving in Narayanganj, although he was unable to implement it there. After joining Chattogram, he said, a series of meetings with business leaders helped turn the concept into reality ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
He noted that while festive seasons in many developed countries are associated with discounts, Bangladesh has traditionally experienced price hikes during such periods.
Recalling the pre-Eid ginger shortage, he said prompt coordination between the district administration and customs authorities ensured the rapid release of imported consignments, reducing prices not only in Chattogram but across the country.
Concluding the programme, the district administration presented commemorative awards to business leaders, government officials, members of law enforcement agencies, representatives of various organisations and journalists in recognition of their contributions to the successful implementation of the Festive Sale campaign.
Speakers at the event unanimously expressed hope that the initiative, rooted in public welfare, shared responsibility and ethical values, would evolve into a lasting culture and inspire similar efforts nationwide.
