Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 12th May, 2018 expressing deep concern at the alarming price hike of the essentials ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
“I am expressing my deep concern at the unmanageable price hike of the essentials ahead of the month of Ramadan. Just within two weeks, price of the necessary commodities have increased significantly, which has intensified the mass crises.
Ahead of the Ramadan month, price of almost all commodities including rice, lentil, gram, onion, garlic, spices, beefs and vegetables have increased unusually. Rice price has increased 5 to 10 taka per kilogram. Substandard rice which was sold at 43 taka per kilogram is being sold at 48 taka per kilogram now. Onion is being sold at 45-50 taka per kilogram, which was 30-32 taka a week before. Sugar is also being sold at 65 taka per kilogram instead of last week’s price of 57 taka. Even the price of broiler chicken has increased 20 taka in per kilogram and now it is being sold at 150 taka.
Price of each of the greens and vegetables have increased 15 to 20 taka per kilogram. The middle class and the low income peoples are suffering enormously due to rapid price hike of the essentials. The government has no control over the market and they are not bothered with the market condition any more.
The government is playing a hide and seek game with the mass sufferings as they were not elected by the peoples. They are rather busy in making ploy to impose tyrannical rule upon the countrymen. They do not have time enough to think about the people’s sufferings. Government backed vested and corrupted businessmen are responsible for such abnormal price hike and regrettably the government is not taking any effective step against them.
I am urging the government to undertake strong measures to bring the price of the essentials within the capacity of the peoples so that they can perform fasting in the upcoming Ramadan properly and peacefully.”
