Govt monitoring price hike of essentials: PM

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government has been monitoring the recent price hike of some essentials to check anomalies.

“There are some people who want to make some quick buck during the period capitalising the situation arising out of the Coronavirus and Russian invasion on Ukraine. So, we have been monitoring the situation,” she said.

The premier came up with the assertion while presiding over a discussion organised by the Awami League at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office here marking the historic 7 March speech of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Joining virtually the discussion from her official Ganobhaban residence, she said prices of some goods might have increased in the country which is usual when the prices of essentials are increased in the international market, the local market has also to face its impact.

The prices of goods have been increasing across the globe due to the economic meltdown for the double blows such as Coronavirus and Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, she opined.

 “Prices of goods have been increasing heavily not in Bangladesh but across the globe that included the USA due to the double blows,” she said.

Coronavirus and Russia's invasion on Ukraine have contributed to the global price hike, she opined.

The Prime Minister said the per capita income has risen to 2591 US dollars, an indicative of increasing purchasing capacity of the countrymen.

Sheikh Hasina asked all the people to bring every inch of their land under cultivation so that the country never suffers from food crisis even in the worst situation arising out of the natural disasters or war.    

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader gave the welcome address.  

AL Presidium Members, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organising Secretary, SM Kamal Hossain, Labour and Human Resources Secretary, Habibjur Rahman Siraj, Dhaka South and North City AL General Secretaries, Humayun Kabir and SM Mannan Kochi, also spoke on the occasion.

Publicity and Publication Minister Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, moderated the discussion.