Dhaka, Dec. 3 -- Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin has accused importers and distributors of raising cooking oil prices without notifying the government.

Speaking at the Secretariat on Wednesday, he criticised the businesses, saying the price hike has "no legal foundation".

Retail prices of bottled soybean oil rose from Tk 189 to Tk 198, while loose oil increased by Tk 5 per litre. Bashir said he learned of the price hike just half an hour before facing the media.

Citing recent government procurement data, he said the authorities purchased oil at prices roughly Tk 20 lower than what is currently being charged in the market.

"[On Tuesday] we bought five million litres from them -- not just a litre or two. If we can buy five million ...