Editorial Desk :
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has recommended free distribution of face masks among the poor people and we believe that the government will ready to accept the idea. There will be huge publicity for noble government’s noble deed.
But there is no guarantee that the poor people will get the masks. Other than the administration is suffering from corona virus of inactivity. Other than the police whole administration is in suspended animation. Not being elected the ministers and others who supposed to be working for the people are detached from the people and have no interest to serve the people. Sycophancy is their full time job. Lying is their habit. Corruption is their addiction.
We still suggest the government make available mask distribution among the poor and make them conscious about the need of wearing mask for himself and his family. We welcome the idea. At the same we fear as they have no control over corruption the corrupt ones misuse them. We urge the local leaders to see the meant for the poor people to get them.
However, prices of many essential commodities, such as edible oil, chickpeas and sugar, have gone up at both retail and wholesale markets. The development comes about two months ahead of the fasting month of Ramzan when demand for these consumer goods goes up to a large extent. Syndicates seem active to raise the price of the essential commodities for excessive profiting. The government should be aware to control the price hike in the spike of Covid-19.
Against this backdrop, Consumer Rights Protection has started surveillance. The price at which a product is bought and sold is already being scrutinised by sitting with the traders.
We know, people’s income has dropped due to the pandemic-induced economic slowdown and fresh restrictions on movement and economic activities from 23 January will again put the economy in fiasco. Those who lost their job in the last two years of economic sluggishness have not found their job to feed their family. For example, at least 70,000 workers at 106 ready-made garments factories have been laid off. The estimation of job cuts around the other sectors would be many more. A survey of the state-run Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) found that 20 percent of working people in Bangladesh have experienced salary cuts as an impact of the pandemic. The pandemic-time shutdown saw a fall in demand in the market, but family expenditures did not fall compared to the rate of salary cuts.
While keeping the prices of TCB’s products lower than in the open market is the main goal of government-initiated consumer marketing, the TCB must ensure that there are no irregularities with their products.
We expect the consumer body to be active knowing the incapacity of the government to offer honest public service to the people. Our job seeking educated people are no use to the people. They are happy with the hefty benefits they are getting as government servants. They are pleased with doing nothing for running a competent government. The government machinery has become unworkable. A big change is necessary to make the government work. We are not an ignorant nation.
