No reason to hike prices of essentials: Minister

Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday said there is no reason to raise the prices of essential commodities and that businessmen also share the same opinion, reports UNB.

"There is no reason to raise prices of essential goods before or during Ramadan," said the minister, while talking to the reporters after attending a meeting with businessmen at the secretariat.

The matter of price hike can only be resolved if everyone works together, he said.

"Ramadan is a holy month... it is not right to take advantage of people's weakness during the month of fasting," he said.

The minister said, "Extortion is a big headache now, it should be restricted. Law enforcers are positively working to control extortion on roads and highways. We in association with police are going to open a call center to prevent extortion."

The holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to begin on first week of May this year.