BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told the Parliament that the prices of essential commodities in the country will remain steady during Ramzan.
“Commodity prices are currently at a tolerable level and the government is hopeful that the market will remain stable during the holy month of Ramzan,” she said.
The leader of the House said this in the Jatiya Sangsad while replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam of Mymensingh-8 regarding the price of essential commodities.
While answering the question, Sheikh Hasina highlighted the various steps taken by the government to control the prices of essential commodities.
“A decision has been taken to sell TCB products at subsidised prices in two phases before the start of Ramzan and in the middle of the month for one crore low-income people in city corporation, district, upazila, pourasova and union parishad levels,” she said.
She added, “the TCB’s products will be sold in line with the set criteria under the supervision of district and upazila administrations.”
Besides, TCB’s products are being sold on trucks in Dhaka South and North City Corporations as well as Barishal City Corporation, she mentioned.
The prime minister said that the price of wheat, in the international market has increased by 60.72 per cent while soybean by 26.41 per cent, palm crude oil by 35.71 per cent and normal sugar by 8.25 per cent alongside the shipping cost increased by 14.5 per cent.
But, the government has taken various measures, including the withdrawal of VAT on cooking oil, market monitoring and ensuring the ample supply of goods, to rein in spiralling prices, she said.
“As a result of all these initiatives, the prices are at a tolerable level. We hope that the prices of essential commodities will remain tolerable during the coming month of Ramzan,” she said.
