Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
PM Hasina to visit Japan on April 25-28
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be on an official visit to Japan from April 25 to 28, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
A number of memorandums of cooperation are expected to be signed during the PM's official visit.
Both the governments of Bangladesh and Japan hope that this visit will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.
Japan wants to elevate the bilateral ties with Bangladesh to a "strategic" level, adding more elements like defence and security areas to the growing relations.
Read: 5th Japan-Bangladesh Public-Pvt Joint Economic Dialogue held online with calls for more investment
The two countries now have a comprehensive partnership and Japan intends to elevate it.
This will be the sixth visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan.
Earlier, she visited Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019.
During her stay in Japan, the Prime Minister will be received by the Emperor of Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio will hold a summit meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister and then host a working dinner in her honour.
Read: Bangladesh to play vital role in Japan's vision for Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Ambassador
During the visit, the PM is scheduled to attend an investment summit and a community reception along with a few bilateral meetings.
She will also hand over the “Friends of Liberation War Honour” to a few Japanese nationals, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister is likely to visit the US and UK after wrapping up her Japan visit but there is no official announcement yet regarding the US and UK visits.
The Prime Minister has been invited to attend the coronation of UK's King Charles III, to be hosted by the Buckingham Palace on May 6.
Read More: Pranay Verma highlights “deep bonds of friendship, cooperation” with Bangladesh
She is likely to travel to Washington DC to attend a programme on May 1 to celebrate 50 years of partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank.
Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
The repayment of the loan taken for construction of Padma Bridge started with Tk 316.91 crore paid to the government in the first two installments on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 as the first and second installments of the loan.
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over the cheque to the premier at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The loan was taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the country will continue to march ahead overcoming any barrier and disaster.
“Bangladesh will continue to march forward, maintaining the current pace of its development journey, no matter how many obstacles come,“ she said.
The PM sought cooperation from the whole nation to face any disaster, accident, the brunt of the war or inflation as the people in cities and villages did during the construction of the Padma Bridge.
"I believe we can move forward overcoming any hurdle if the people stand beside us. Construction of the Padma Bridge with the own finance is the best example of it," she said.
She said the government had to overcome a strong obstacle nationally and internationally during the construction of the iconic bridge.
PM Hasina said she didn’t get support from a number of people regarding the construction of the country’s longest bridge with own finance. It was said that it would never be possible, she said.
She said different heads of the state and government during talks told her that it would be a tough work since the World Bank withdrew its finance from the project. But only Malaysia supported with then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak saying that it would be possible with own finance, she noted.
Describing the Padma Bridge as the sign of the country’s pride, she said Bangladesh has been able to show its capacity to the world with the construction of the bridge with own finance.
“I think it’s not only a bridge, but also a symbol of pride and capacity of the Bengali nation,” she said, adding that the trial run of train through the Padma Bridge also started from Tuesday last.
On June 25, 2022, the prime minister opened the country’s largest bridge – 6.15-km Padma Bridge- over the mighty Padma River.
The 6.15-km bridge connected directly the country’s 21 south and south-western districts with the capital, and it is expected to accelerate the GDP growth by 1.23 per cent and make an outstanding contribution to socio-economic development by alleviating poverty.
The total allocation was Tk 30,193.39 crore, but the allocation for the main bridge was Tk 12,133.39 crore (including Tk 1,000 crore for installation of 400-kv electricity transmission line and gas line).
Besides, the Tk 9,400 crore was allocated for river training works, Tk 1,907.68 crore for approach roads (including two toll plazas, construction of two buildings for police stations and three service areas), Tk 1,515 crore for the rehabilitation of the displaced people (caused by the project) and Tk 2698.73 crore for land acquisition.
The Padma Bridge is expected to last more than 100 years, but its construction cost will be recovered in the next 35 years.
PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the cheque handing-over event, while former Cabinet Secretary and Bridge Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam spoke on the occasion.
Governor of Bangladesh Bank Abdur Rouf Talukder, Finance Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin, Bridge Division Secretary Md. Monjur Hossain were present at the event.
ECNEC nods 11 projects with estimated cost of Tk 4,252.66 crore
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a total of 11 projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 4,252.66 crore.
Of the total project cost, Tk 3,645.21 crore will come from the government fund while the rest of Taka 607.45 crore as project assistance.
The approval came at the weekly ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting said that of the approved 11 projects, six are new while five are revised projects.
The approved projects are: Establishment of cancer centre at Dhaka CMH (2nd phase) with Tk 246 crore, Establishment of 10 secondary schools adjacent to Dhaka, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 76.94 crore, Secondary education sector investment Programme, 3rd revised, without any additional cost.
Read more: Ecnec nods 6 projects worth Tk 7,018 crore
The other projects are— construction of Swadhinata Tower at Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka, 3rd phase, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 131.91 crore, nutrition development through production of fruits round the year, 2nd revised with an additional cost of Tk 211.32 crore and flood reconstruction emergency assistance project with Tk 300 crore.
The rest of the projects are— infrastructural development of Jamalpur district with Tk 1,125 crore, WASH Sector Strengthening and Sanitation Market System (SanMarks) Development Project in Bangladesh with Tk 156.25 crore, climate resilient sustainable water supply, sanitation, and hygiene project in Bangladesh with Tk 274.48 crore, Dredging at inner bar at Mongla Port channel, 1st revised with an additional cost of Tk 198.54 crore and road widening and development on Bhulta-Araihazar-Bancharampur-Nabinagar-Shibpur-Radhika regional highway with Tk 1,532.22 crore.
Protect overseas job seekers from frauds, middlemen: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday stressed the need for ensuring that seekers of jobs abroad must not fall prey to the frauds and middlemen.
“So we always have to consider that these people could go abroad through proper channel and get appropriate job. It is very important for us to ensure that these people must not fall prey to fraudulent people and middlemen,” she said.
The prime minister was delivering her introductory speech at the second meeting of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Affairs National Steering Committee at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She asked the authorities concerned to find new destinations for sending manpower alongside making them skilled through giving appropriate training on different trades.
“We have manpower in different countries, but we have to find more destinations,” said the PM.
Hasina said that the government has started sending manpower to some new places. “But, we have to send skilled manpower. We have taken initiatives to provide training,” she said.
She asked the authorities concerned to figure out which country needs what kinds of skilled manpower. “We will provide training to them.”
Read More: 11 Bangladeshi auto mechanics get jobs in Japan
The PM mentioned that sometimes it is seen that people are selling their houses and lands to pay the unscrupulous middlemen and fraudulent persons for a job abroad.
She put emphasis on creating public awareness against going abroad for jobs through middlemen.
During the heavy pressure on the economy forcoronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, the income of the expatriates contributed a lot in the country's reserve and overall development, said the prime minister.
She said the Awami League government has established Expatriates’ Welfare Bank to provide loans to the overseas jobseekers.
Hasina also praised the freelancers of the country for earning foreign exchange. “Our freelancers are also earning foreign currencies. We have given them certificates after bringing them under registration process.”
She also requested the expatriates to send their money through legal channels. “We have given special stimulus of 2.5 percent for sending money through legal channel.”
The prime minister asked the authorities concerned to take necessary measures so that dreams of the expatriate Bangladeshis do not turn into nightmare due to misuse of their hard earned money sent through illegal channels.
Read More: Job Circular: 9th Grade Jobs in Ministry of Defence
She directed the authorities of the Probashi Kallyan Bank to introduce agent banking in working places of the expatriate Bangladeshis to reach the legal money sending services at their doorsteps.
“Necessary steps have been taken to ease process of sending money from abroad through legal and banking channels.”
She said that many of the expatriate workers send money through illegal channels and fraud brokers which ultimately make them losers.
She said that at present there are sufficient employment opportunities in the country and people are earning more.
She mentioned that a day labourer who used to earn Tk 200-300 per day in the past, now can earn Tk 600-1000 per day depending on the nature of work. The minimum earning is Tk 500-600.
Earning in the rural areas is higher than this amount, she said adding that during the paddy harvesting season the amount is Tk 700-800 with three meals a day.
Read More: RMG giant Pacific to invest big in CEPZ, creating 5000 jobs
“The rural economy has improved a lot. If anyone goes to rural areas it will be seen that the standard of living in the rural areas has improved a lot,”
Sometimes scarcity of labour is also seen as people are becoming solvent, she added.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Planning Minister MA Mannan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Empowerment Imran Ahmed were present among others.
Agriculture to be mechanised through multipurpose cooperatives: PM Hasina
Prime Minister sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government will mechanise the agriculture through multipurpose rural cooperatives to boost production of food and other crops.
“We are taking an initiative to mechanise the agriculture through multipurpose rural cooperatives system which was initially taken up by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the three-day first-ever National Land Conference 2023 along with launching seven initiatives of the land ministry.
The programme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) with Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in the chair.
The conference (March 29-31) will focus on the role of the land ministry in building a smart Bangladesh and to find out the future challenges of digitization of land services.
Other objectives of the conference include informing citizens, government agencies, and stakeholders about the steps taken by the land ministry, creating awareness among them about land management, and giving an idea about the existing laws and regulations related to land.
One of the 7 initiatives that the prime minister is set to inaugurate is the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Monument and the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Guchchagram Complex.
The remaining 6 initiatives include Registration-Mutation Interconnection, Smart Land Map, Smart Land Records, Smart Land Pedia, Smart Land Service Center, and Union Land Office.
Hasina said that under the planned cooperatives system one portion of the harvest will go to the owners of the lands, one portion to the engaged labourers while one portion to the government.
She mentioned that the government will utilise its portion for the land preservation and maintenance.
“Already, the cooperatives ministry has been instructed to make a policy regarding this matter. We want that,” she said.
She also said that there will be no demarcation separating one plot of land from another. But there will be no problem regarding the ownership of the lands as digital mapping will specify the ownership.
Read more: Boost research on agriculture to increase production: PM Hasina tells scientists
“Although there will be no demarcation, all lands will be cultivated collectively, as there will be digital map, ownership will be specifically indicated, owners will get their share as per their lands’ proportion,” she narrated.
The PM said that if this system is established the people of Bangladesh will never be poor and hungry and they will not suffer from food scarcity.
“We will not need to beg to anyone for foods, rather we will be able to help others,” she said.
Hasina said that from Pahela Boishakh 1430 (April 14, 2023) the land development tax across the country will be fully collected through online.
She said that Awami League is the servant of the people as it emerged from the struggle to materialise the rights of the people.
“From the very beginning Awami League is continuing its struggle to establish the rights of the people. And while in power we are doing our job with the motto of serving the people,” she said.
She mentioned that the government has taken steps to remove the land-related hassles that created problems among the family members.
“Our aim is to ensure the welfare of the people. Many people face many problems while taking land related services, Inshallah in the digital and smart Bangladesh people will not suffer anymore. We want that all sorts of irregularities will be removed from Bangladesh.”
Recalling the arson attacks of BNP and its allies during 2013-15 period that killed many innocent people in the name of anti-government movement, she said that they burnt down 60 public offices, including six land offices.
Later the government built around 400 land offices across the country and in every upazila there is now modern land office with record preservation system.
“Their (BNP and Jamaat) job is to demolish while Awami League’s is to create for the welfare of the people. And our prime aim is to serve the people,” she said.
The prime minister put emphasis on the proper sharing of wealth and lands among the successors to avoid future complexities.
“The shares of the successors can be specified through digital means solving many family problems,” she said.
Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haq, Law secretary Md. Golam Sarwar, Land secretary Md Mustafizur Rahman and Assistant Land Commissioner Rajbari Noor Jahan Alther Sathi also spoke at the programme.
Four seminars/panel discussions on various topics related to land management have been scheduled to take place during the afternoons of the day of inauguration ceremony and the following two days, according to the press release.
The second and third day events of the conference will be held at BIAM Foundation in the capital.
PM Hasina expresses shock at bus crash in Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the horrific bus crash that killed around 24 omrah hajj pilgrims and injured around 23 people at the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia on Monday.
But it was not clear how many Bangladeshis were among the dead. Authorities said they were trying to figure out that.
In a condolence message, she prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured persons.
The bus was carrying pilgrims to the holy city Makkah. Reportedly, many of the passengers were Bangladeshis. The accident occurred at about 4.00 pm at Agabat Shaar in Asir province.
Read more: Tremor in Turkey and Syria: PM Sheikh Hasina expresses shock
She asked the Foreign Ministry officials and the Saudi Mission personnel to take necessary actions for recovering the bodies of Bangladeshi nationals and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
According to the preliminary report, due to the malfunction of the brake system the bus lost control and collided with a car, rolled over, and caught fire.
The passengers could not get off the bus and around 24 passengers were killed on the spot.
Cabinet clears draft law to check loan defaulters
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of Bank-Company (Amendment) Act, 2023 in a bid to check willful loan defaulters.
Under the draft law, maximum three members (instead of existing four members) of a family will be allowed to be directors of a bank.
The approval came from the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here.
Now the banking activities are run under the Bank-Company Act, 1991.
Its amendment proposal was brought in order to make the law modern and time-befitting one, said Secretary (Coordination & Reforms) at the Cabinet Division Mahmudul Hossain Khan while briefing reporters at the secretariat after the meeting.
“Those who are willful loan defaulters are defined and what actions will be taken against them are mentioned here,” he said.
Talking about the actions, the secretary said the banks must send the list of willful loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank and it can impose ban on going abroad, issuance of trade license (against them), and registration under the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and the Registrar of Joint Stock Company and Firm.
Besides, a willful loan defaulter can’t be eligible to be a director of a bank or financial institution until five years passes after being excluded from the list of willful loan defaulters, he said.
Read more: Cabinet clears draft family court act 2022
If any director of a bank becomes a willful loan defaulter, Bangladesh Bank can declare his post vacant, he added.
The secretary said if a bank fails to send the list of loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank in time, the bank can be fined Tk 50 lakh to Tk one crore. The bank will have to count additional Tk one lakh as fine for every each day delay, he said.
“As per the existing law, the maximum four members of a family can be directors of any bank, but it has been reduced to three now,” he said.
The bank directors and their family members must provide collaterals, bond or security for taking loans from the bank as per a new provision incorporated in the draft law.
A provision was also included here so that Bangladesh Bank can regularly inspect different institutions and foundations run under the law, he added.
Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all international community including the United Nations to recognise March 25 as the International Genocide Day.
“Internationally we want that …March 25 will get recognition as the International Genocide Day,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech in the Awami League Parliamentary Board (ALPB) meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban.
On the night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killings and arson in Dhaka to implement their blueprint to thwart Awami League assuming office following its victory in the 1970 election.
The night also witnessed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s proclamation of independence before he was arrested by the Pakistani troops and subsequently taken to West Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh had started its journey with this “wound (genocide).”
Read more: Why hasn’t the UN recognised 1971 Bangladesh Genocide yet?
She mentioned that Pakistani occupational forces had committed genocide over unarmed Bengalis.
“They unleashed attacks on the people of Bangladesh in a horrific way and killed people for long nine months,” she said.
In this connection, the Awami League chief said that some 30 lakh people embraced martyrdom, three crore people were forcibly became homeless.
“They torched homes and one crore people took shelter in India as refugee,” she said.
She said that there were dead bodies on the roads, bodies were eaten by jackals and dogs, and the people of the country saw that.
“There was inhumane oppression on women, they were taken to the army camps,” she added.
The Prime Minister said that Father of the nation had built a country ravaged by the war.
“We also got the recognition as the least developed country during his three years and seven months tenure. It was unfortunate that the father of the nation was killed brutally.”
She said that blood of the martyrs would never go in vain.
“Our Independence that we got in exchange of millions of martyrs, we have attained the status of developing country, we want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country. It is our pledge to millions of martyrs and to our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she vowed.
Read more: Genocide Day to be observed on Saturday
In the attack on March 25, 1971 dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed Bangalee members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.
They killed people indiscriminately, set houses on fire and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.
The day is being observed as Genocide Day officially for the seventh time in the country since the parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017.
Utilise export opportunities emerging due to Russia-Ukraine war: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 20, 2023) put emphasis on formulating new long term export policy for Bangladesh, considering graduation to a developing country from LDC after 2026.
“After 2026, while we will graduate to a developing country from LDC, we will get some opportunities… We have to utilise those opportunities to make our economy stronger and develop the country further,” she said.
The prime minister said this while speaking at the 11th meeting of the National Committee on Export, at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She mentioned that after graduating to a developing nation, the next aim will be to become a developed one.
Read More: Canada to increase potash exports to Bangladesh to boost food production, says country’s trade ministry
Sheikh Hasina also asked the concerned to utilise opportunities regarding enhancing Bangladesh’s export items that have emerged due to Russia-Ukraine war.
She said that due to Russia-Ukraine was, there is an opportunity for Bangladesh to create new markets with its own products.
In this regard, she said that many countries have already shown interest to import food items from Bangladesh.
“We could export food items after fulfilling local demands. We can take initiatives for that,” she said.
Read More: Simplified policy, product diversification could boost exports to UK over $12 billion by 2029: Study says
She said that immense opportunities could be created through establishing food processing industries in the country and export those items.
The PM said that the government has given importance to the export sector.
“After assuming office, we have taken steps to formulate long term export policies instead of policies on one-year basis. To sustain achievements, there is no alternative to long term strategy,” she said.
She said that the government has formulated export policy until 2024 (2021-2024).
Read More: Apparel export to EU up 14.3% during July-February of FY23
“…But what will we do after that? In the meantime, we are graduating to a developing country. I think this is the right time to consider what we will do in the coming days or how we will advance,” she said.
She put emphasis on setting the next moves for economy, keeping in mind the current economic turmoil across the globe.
“We have to find new markets across the globe. We have to diversify our products, we have to include new items in our export basket,” she said.
The PM said that the Awami League government has given utmost importance to the private sector and it opened every sector to entrepreneurs as it is not possible for the government alone to develop the country.
Read More: 'India a great potential market for Bangladesh's RMG exports'
For the development of the export sector, she said, a strategy needs to be adopted and products have to be identified.
“For that we have formulated a prospective plan – to turn the country into a developed one by 2041,” she said.
The PM also mentioned ICT and digital devices, RMG, pharmaceuticals, light and medium weight industries, motor vehicles and electronic motor vehicles, while talking about diversifying products.
She said that the government is preparing 100 economic zones with investment from home and abroad.
Read More: Bangladesh export income rises despite bad global economy
“Bangladesh has been able to attract foreign investments,” PM Hasina said.
Commerce, Home ministries coordinating govt's tough stance on price gouging ahead of Ramadan
This year's Ramadan is still a couple of days away, but a segment of traders already appears eager to increase profit margins by raising the prices of different commodities.
The government of Bangladesh however claims to be on to them, and has taken various initiatives to keep the market stable during the holy month.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed officials to increase surveillance across the country so that dishonest businessmen cannot make excessive profits. She particularly instructed the field-level administration to be on alert. The Commerce Ministry has said it will keep an eye on the traders so they cannot destabilize the market by creating any artificial crisis.
Even detectives from the law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry have been instructed to keep their eyes open so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create an artificial crisis in Ramadan.
Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis
In the past, it was noticed that traders increased the prices of goods several times before the start of market supervision ahead of Ramadan. Just before Ramadan, the demand for items like edible oil, sugar, pulses, chickpeas, spices, and so on increases. Traders take this opportunity and raise the prices of in-demand items. It is no different this time.
“Ramadan is a few days away. Like last year, I have bought sugar, pulses, and chickpeas at a much higher price. Every year the same thing happens. There is also an upswing in the vegetable market,” Wahid Fakir, a resident of Bhatara New Market, told UNB.
The prices of sugar, oil, ginger, onion, and other essential goods have all increased in the last week. Vegetables, fish, and meat prices are also going up. Although there is also no shortage of edible oil in the market, daily essentials are selling at an increased price rate every week.
"This year we are already on alert from before. No one will be spared, if there is an artificial crisis in the market. We, the local administration, including the law enforcement agencies, and consumer rights protection directorate, will continue to monitor the market with mobile courts,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told UNB.
Read: People forced to return home with bags half full due to higher prices of chicken, meat, fish
“As preparation for Ramadan, I have had meetings with businessmen one to two months ago. That's when we asked them to increase imports. In particular, instructions have been given so that the banks open the LCs quickly for the import of food products,” he said.
“The government has taken all kinds of necessary initiatives to keep the prices of goods under control during Ramadan. We have warned the traders about the preparations in advance this year. Controlling commodity prices was a challenging affair at this time of global crisis and rise in dollar rate,” he also said.
“Despite this, dollars have been provided for import of all food products commonly used in Ramadan. Besides, the ministry has requested the NBR to reduce the duty and VAT to reduce the prices of commodities like sugar and edible oil,” said the minister. “In addition, we are taking several other programmes to control the prices of goods during Ramadan. Apart from the family card allocated for 1 crore families, sugar and chickpeas will be sold in truck-sales in Dhaka and divisional cities. NBR has also extended the time for import of rice by three more months."
“Hopefully, the prices of goods will be stable during Ramadan. The government's preparation in this regard is good enough,” added Tipu Munshi.
Read More: Have enough stock, no scope of price hike during Ramadan: Tipu
Asked about the role of law enforcement agencies in keeping the market stable during Ramadan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, "The law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent the rise in the prices of goods.”
“Detectives have already been instructed to keep an eye so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create any artificial crisis around Ramadan and make the market unstable. Several strict steps have been taken, including conducting mobile courts, to control the prices of consumer goods by suppressing syndicates,” he said.
“Various strategies are being formulated to prevent artificial crises in the market and to take action against those who stockpile goods. Along with the police, the law enforcement agencies and consumer rights department, including RAB, will be active in the field, the intelligence surveillance will also be increased,” he also said.
Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “If there is an abnormal situation in the market, we can enforce the law. Every deputy commissioner has been told about this. They will monitor it very strictly. We will also monitor from here.”
Read More: Make marginal profit in Ramadan, Munshi urges businessmen