BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the prices of daily essentials are going up due to plundering by government-backed business syndicates.

“The government-supported business syndicates are looting money from public pockets by raising the prices of commodities,” he said.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, also said the ruling party-backed syndicates are also indulging in massive corruption and looting in the name of mega projects. “The country's economy is now on the verge of destruction due to the plundering.”

He made the remarks while unveiling the cover of the second volume of the book styled “Mrityukupe Dhabaman Bangladesh” at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. The book was written in memory of the martyrs of the movement for the restoration of democracy at the initiative of Zia Parishad.

Mosharraf asked the government to explain why the prices of goods are increasing when it is saying there is an "adequate stock" of food and goods in the country. "Do you (govt) know the market condition? We want to know if there is so much stock of food and goods, why is the price increasing? The government should clearly explain it to the people.”

The BNP leader alleged that the government is lying about the stock of food grain.

He said people are deeply worried as the prices of all essentials keep soaring ahead of Ramadan.

Referring to media reports, Mosharraf said the price of sugar has reached Tk120 per kg while the price of broiler chicken has doubled. “The beef is now above Tk800 per kg and salt is above Tk42."

He asked the ruling party leaders to visit the kitchen market to see how much people hurl abuse at the government.

“Chicken, hilsa and rui fish are now being sold after dividing into 100-200 grams or 250 grams in the kitchen market. We did not see this in the past. Even after that, the government is saying there is sufficient stock of food and goods in the country,” the BNP leader observed.

He urged the ruling party to quit and hand over power to a non-party caretaker government for establishing a government of the people through a credible election.

Mosharraf also said different democratic countries are now asking the government to take steps for holding the next polls in a free and fair manner with the participation of all parties. “International community doesn’t recognise the elections held in 2014 and 2018.”

He also said the next election will not be inclusive if BNP does not participate in it.