Commodity price will remain tolerable during Ramadan: PM tells Parliament

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed hope that the commodity price will be in control during the upcoming month of Ramadan.

She also described the government initiatives which are taken to keep the market price tolerable and urged the countrymen to be vigilant.

The premier made these remarks while replying to a supplementary question during the Prime Minister’s scheduled question-answer session at the National Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

The prime minister highlighted the steps taken by the government to control the price of commodity and inflation during the upcoming fasting month and said: "As a result of these measures, the lives of poor people, especially poor families, elderly, widows, women and low-income people will get relive during the holy month of Ramadan. Inflation will remain at a tolerable level and it will be possible to rein in the prices of essential daily needs in the market,”

The Leader of the House was replying to the question of the ruling party Parliament Member Ali Azam, and the session was chaired by the Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.

“If everybody becomes conscious and does not pay heed to rumours, then none can create any problem by spreading rumours,” she added.

She said that they remained alert so that the unscrupulous businessmen can’t play with the food items of common people.

She said that many essential food items have to be imported but “we want to cut the import dependency rather we want to become self-reliant through boosting production.”

Meanwhile, a directive has already been given to display the price list of essential commodities at the shops. “If the price list is displayed, the consumers can see it and understand whether he/she is cheated,” she said.

Mentioning that the government has taken sufficient measures, she made a call to all not to pay heed to any rumour.

While responding to another question of the Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Hoque Chunnu, the prime minister said that strict action will be taken against anyone who deliberately increases the prices of daily commodities.

“Ramadan is the month of moderation and austerity. We should change our mindset that without eating a certain item fasting will not be performed,” added the premier.

The prime minister also said: “Many people seem to eat more in the month of Ramadan but the fact is Ramadan is the month of fasting. We need to exercise fasting.”

The PM also said that alongside conducting mobile courts, regular visits to the markets are going on and punitive measures are being taken to stop the dishonesty in the market.

“Even after that, if anyone hikes the prices of essential commodities deliberately, stern actions must be taken against them,” she added.

The prime minister said the government has to keep in mind that the farmers should get the reasonable prices of their produce and simultaneously, it also has to be ensured that consumers could purchase the products at prices at a tolerable level.

“Our government is very much aware about it,” she added.

In addition, Sheikh Hasina said, worldwide transportation has been facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ukraine-Russia war, and Israel’s attack on Gaza.

Regarding the imported essential commodities, she said, the post Covid-19 situation and wars have been creating troubles.

For that reason, people of the country should concentrate on boosting production and consume their own items, she said.

The head of government reiterated her call to all not to keep any inch of land unutilized rather go for production whatever they can from their respective positions.