Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman issued a strong warning on Saturday against market syndicates and illicit hoarding, declaring that state authorities are taking active steps to dismantle these illegal cartels.

Speaking to reporters following an inspection of wholesale jute and onion markets in the Shailkupa area of Jhenaidah this morning, the minister emphasized that market cartels have victimized agricultural producers across the nation.

"We will move forward with the aim of dismantling syndicates in all sectors so that marginal farmers can benefit. Traders have formed syndicates in the markets, holding farmers hostage. Special Powers Act will be applied against market syndicates and hoarding. The maximum punishment for hoarding under The Special Powers Act, 1974, is death. Therefore, those who engage in hoarding should think twice before doing so," he warned.

Detailing the systemic exploitation occurring in rural trading hubs, Md Asaduzzaman observed that growers are systematically denied equitable returns despite their labor-intensive work.

"Farmers do not get fair prices despite growing crops through hard work. After bringing their produce to the markets, farmers become hostage to syndicates. They have to pay an additional two kilograms of jute or onions per maund (40 kilograms) as extortion," the minister said.

He elaborated that market sanitation workers and members of the transgender community also extort money from visiting growers, resulting in farmers surrendering approximately 45 kilograms of produce for every standard 40-kilogram maund—a practice he condemned as deeply unjust.

Md Asaduzzaman confirmed that official directives have been dispatched across all local retail and wholesale trade centers to break up these organized groups. During the minister's inspection tour, Upazilla BNP President Abul Hossain and General Secretary Humayun Babor Feroz were present among other local figures.