“Rice prices are now on the rise along with that of onion. The syndicates, secretly-supported by the government, is now looking at the rice market and people have to buy it at higher prices like onion. They’re plundering public money in every possible way,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “The prices of rice increased by Tk 4-6 per kg over the last few days. No step by any government agency is in sight to control the price hike. In fact, the government has no monitoring over the market.”
The BNP leader questioned as to why the rice prices are going up while the government has enough stock of the staple food across the country. “Rice import is also higher this time than last year’s. The rice supply in wholesale and retail markets is also normal, and there’s no crisis of rice anywhere, but its prices are increasing.”
As the government did not take any action against those involved in onion scam, he said the rice ‘hoarders supported by some ministers, MPs and pro-government businessmen’ have now become desperate to make quick buck.
Rizvi said people want to know why the government could not resolve the onion crisis for a long time.
He said the government’s incompetence and negligence are the main reasons behind the unusual hike in the prices of the important kitchen item like onion.
The BNP leader said their party will stage protest rallies across the country on Monday against the exorbitant onion price.
In the capital, he said, their protest rally will be held in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 10am.