Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque has said that those who create artificial food crisis must be brought under the law.

The minister was talking to journalists before inaugurating a training workshop on the best use of high-yielding seeds at Mymensingh Town Hall on Monday.

He said that in the market economy the government should not set the prices of goods. He, however, said food shortage and spiraling prices have no relation with fixed price.

“In a market economy, fixed rates of goods can’t be implemented. Instead, an indicator of minimum prices can be provided. Monitoring and controlling the market are the keys here. Those who engage in profiteering by suddenly increasing the prices of essentials have to be punished and their trade licenses have to be cancelled,” Razzaque said.

The minister added that the concerned ministries, including the Commerce Ministry, the Food Ministry, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry, must cooperate and coordinate to keep food prices in check.

Read: No food shortage in country: Agriculture Minister

Replying to another question, Razzaque  said that the government is on the right track in tackling food crisis.

“There hasn’t been any food crisis in the country in the last 13 years. Even, the government has ensured food security amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. We’re currently focusing on increasing food production so that we may not have to face any adverse situation in the future,” Razzaque said.

The workshop was presided over by Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam. Ikramul Haque Titu, Mayor of Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC), Kazim Uddin Ahmed, Member of Parliament (MP) from Mymensingh-11 constituency, and Anwarul Abedin Khan, MP from Mymensingh-9 constituency, among others, spoke at the event.