BNP blames govt for failure to monitor Ramadan market

BNP on Wednesday alleged that the market has become unstable with the skyrocketing prices of essentials at the beginning of Ramadan for lack of monitoring and control by the government.

"Those who influence the market are now controlling the government. That's why the market has become unstable at the beginning of Ramadan," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Naya Paltan central office, he also said the government is barely bothered about public sufferings as it has no responsibility for common people.

"They (govt) have got hostage to an unscrupulous and wicked syndicate which is now controlling the market," the BNP leader said.

He alleged that meat traders are charging Tk 50 to 75 higher than the rates set by the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) for beef and mutton per kg during Ramadan.

Rizvi said the meat traders blamed the extortion by ruling party men at cattle markets for the high prices of beef and mutton. "The government high-ups are getting the share of the extorted money. The Awami syndicate is also plundering public money by raising the prices of the essentials."

He said people are facing serious difficulties as the government has completely failed to control the prices of essentials at the beginning of the Ramadan. "The government is not monitoring the market as its eyes are on plundering."

Though the commerce minister assured that the prices of essentials would not go up during Ramadan, the BNP leader said, the prices marked a sharp rise for no valid reason.

About the ongoing movement by the workers of jute mills at different parts of the country for having their outstanding wages cleared, he urged the government to take steps to accept their justified demands.