Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the people to take austerity measures amid high inflation and price hike of goods across the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Yes, it is true that prices of goods have shot up to some extent. But it is still uncertain how much the prices would soar further. It is not only in Bangladesh, but also throughout the world. Rather we’ve been able to keep these under control at least (to some extent). We’ve been trying our best,” she said.

The premier was addressing a discussion through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Bangladesh Awami League arranged the discussion at its central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue marking the historic Six-Point Day. Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, chaired it.

She said this war doesn’t seem to end so soon. “We all have to be economical. We’ll have to pay attention so that food will no way be wasted,” she said adding that the shipping cost to transport goods went up from US$ 800 to US$ 2500-US$ 3,000.

Pointing to the readymade garment workers’ movement to raise salary, the premier said they might lose their jobs if any unrest is created in the sector now in this tough time when the purchasing power of the people is declining in the export markets of Bangladeshi clothes.

"If any kind of unrest is created following someone’s words, it will harm not only the country but also the workers. Everyone will have to keep it in mind. I think the matter should be informed to the workers and their leaders,” she said.

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She said the labour leaders will not face any trouble as they will get a good amount of money from instigators. “But what will be the fate of workers? They will be affected for taking to the street,” she added.

Hasina said her government increased the salary of the apparel workers on several occasions. A worker now gets Tk 8,000-Tk 10,000 a month and other facilities, but the salary was only Tk 1,600 in the past, she added.

She said the government has been providing subsidies in different sectors. It has given all sorts of incentives to the garment sector. “It is not possible to provide more than that,” she added.

As the government helped the factories preventing their closure for Covid-19, now they get work orders, their exports increase and they can import capital machinery, she said.

The PM said if anyone now wages movement leading to the shutdown of the factories, the job would also be lost. “If you don’t understand it, we’ve nothing to do here. Because how much more can we give to the private sector!” she said.

“The purchasing power of the buyers in the importing-countries is declining and it is worsening day by day,” she said, adding that the prices of goods soared in the USA, Europe and other places and the people are suffering there.

Many developed countries are now facing difficulties amid the global economic recession caused by the Coronavirus outbreak and then Ukraine-Russia war. The inflation rate shot up to even 17 per cent in some countries in Europe and over 10 per cent in the USA, she added.

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Hasina said the people have been asked to exercise austerity in the use of electricity and edible oil in England. “But we’ve been able to keep the prices of goods under control by providing subsidies as much as possible,” she said.

“We’ve increased our reserve of foreign currencies to US$ 48 billion. Now we’ve been providing subsidies and support to the electricity, gas, agriculture and health sectors drawing the money from the reserve,” she added.

The PM asked the people not to keep a single inch of arable land uncultivated amid the global food shortage. “We should arrange (produce) foods at least to be needed for ourselves,” she said.

About the historic six-point programme, Hasina said it was presented by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the “Magna Carta” of Bangalis as it had prepared the people for the independence.

“The Six-Point Demand was to prepare the people fully with the spirit of liberation, and prepare them to participate in the Liberation War,” she pointed out.

She said Bangabandhu himself formulated the Six-Point Demand. After Bangabandhu got released from jail on 17 December, 1959 and then joined Alfa insurance company due to ban on politics at that time, his personal assistant Mohammad Hanif wrote it on typewriter taking dictation from Bangabandhu.

“I think no other demand got so much popularity in a very short time in world history,” said Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu.

She said the country had achieved independence due to firm belief and confidence, courage, honesty and foresight of Bangabandhu.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered an introductory speech in the discussion.

On 7 June in 1966, Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched a massive movement against the misrule of the Pakistanis on the basis of the 6-point demand, demanding autonomy for the then East Pakistan.