DUSHANBE, July 21, 2012, Asia-Plus — Imam-khatibs of Dushabe’s mosques are expected to meet with local bazaar administrators to discuss ways to prevent artificial hike in prices of basic food products during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
An official source at the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan says this issue was discussed last Friday at a meeting of the CRA head Abdurahim Kholiqov with imam-khatibs of Dushanbe’s main mosques.
The CRA head reportedly asked imam-khatibs to meet with local bazaar administrators to prevent artificial rise in prices of basic food products in Dushanbe during Ramadan. “He called on imam-khatibs to explain the meaning of Ramadan to their parishioners and persuade merchants running their shops at Dushanbe’s bazaars not to artificially raise prices,” the source said.
Issues related to regulation of prices of basic food products during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan were a major topic of a July 17 meeting of the Dushanbe municipal administration. Bazaar merchants were reportedly recommended to sell beef at 29.00 somoni per one kilogram, lamb at 30.00 somoni per one kilogram, vegetable oil at up to 8.00 somoni per liter, local rice at up to 7.00 somoni per kilogram, sugar at up to 5.00 somoni per kilogram, milk at up to 3.00 somoni per liter, potatoes at up to 2.00 per kilogram, carrots at up to 2.20 somoni per kilogram, onions at up to 1.10 somoni per kilogram and eggs at up to 60 dirams per piece.
In early July, Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev called on imam-khatibs of Dushanbe’s mosques to promote reduction in prices of basic food items during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
We will recall that the Dushanbe authorities took unpopular measures last year to curb food price hikes. The mayor of Dushanbe in May last year called on market traders to lower the prices they charged for flour, beef, and lamb, following a spike in the cost of basic food items. Last year, food prices in Tajikistan rose dramatically due to increase in the price of fuel and the U.S. dollar”s rise against the local currency. At least ten butchers were arrested and questioned in Dushanbe in May last year for failing to comply with a recommendation by the mayor’s office to lower the meat prices.
