The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has urged the government not to increase sugar price at this moment.

On June 19, Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association, an organisation of sugar mill owners, requested the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission through a letter to increase the price of sugar by a maximum of Tk 25 per kilogramme with effect from June 22.

The CAB has strongly protested the sugar mill owners' proposal, terming it unreasonable, unfair and goes against the consumers' interest, the association said in a press release today.

Loose sugar is currently being sold in the market at prices higher than rates set by the government, said the non-government and non-profit voluntary organisation.

The government has fixed the retail price of loose sugar at Tk 120 per kg and packaged sugar at Tk 125, but those are sold at Tk 130 to Tk 140 in the market, it added.

The CAB feels the sugar mill owners have made the proposal to make more profit by forcing consumers to buy sugar at higher prices prior to Eid ul-Azha.