Dhaka, March 17 -- The government has set prices of some kinds of dates, but absence of visible measures to identify and punish profiteers has forced customers to buy the imported fruit at higher rates than the ones mandated in Ramadan.After calculating costs for import, duty, taxes, transport and profit margin, the commerce ministry said the maximum retail price of common dates would be Tk 150 to 165 a kg, and most sold Jaydi dates Tk 170 to 180.But traders are charging customers Tk 200 for common dates and Tk 300 for Jaydi dates.

Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association said they cannot control the retailers, but added that the retailers can sell at the government-fixed rates if they keep the profit margin low.The retailers blamed...