Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The government has declared17 food items as essential commodities considering the interest of the consumers, officials said. 
 
The essential commodities are onion, garlic, lentils, chickpeas, dried chilies, cinnamon/ cassia, clove, cardamom, seeds of coriander, seeds of cumin, ginger, turmeric, bay leaves, edible soybean oil, edible palm oil, sugar and edible salt as the essential commodities, according to a notification,issued by the ministry of commerce on Thursday. 
Earlier on July 16, the ministry took initiatives to include some more food items in the list of essential commodities.
The commerce ministry has included those food items in the existing essential commodities act considering the benefit of the people, a senior official of the ministry said, adding that inclusion of those food items as essential commodities would ensure discipline in the market and curb monopoly of the unscrupulous traders.
 
BBN/SSR/SI-27July12-2:40 pm (BST)