A meeting of the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was held with party’s Acting Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman in the chair. The meeting adopted following proposals expressing deep concern over the price hike of the essential commodities:

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive committee has been observing with deep concern that the lives of the middle class, lower-middle class and the poor sections have become extremely deplorable due to price hike of the essentials. People’s income is not increasing keeping pace with the price spiral. The government has increased the salary of the government officials 5% to secure the victory in next election. But rest of the people will not get any benefit of this decision. The limited income people cannot pass 15 days of the month with their salaries. The government, on the other hand, is mulling to arrange another voter less election. They do not have any interest in reducing the mass suffering. Resultantly, the mass people are extremely dissatisfied and aggrieved about this government.

At present, rice is being sold at 60 to 90 taka per kilogram, lentils from 140 to 150 taka per kilo, salt at 45 taka, sugar 145 taka per kilogram, soyabean oil per liter 179 taka, onion 70 to 80 taka per kilogram, garlic at 200 taka, dry chili 600 taka, dry turmeric 300 taka per kilogram, ginger at 300 taka, tomato 260-280 taka, green chili at 500 taka, rui fish at 350-460 taka per kilogram, hilsha fish at 1200 taka, beef per kg at 800 taka, mutton meat at 1200 taka and broiler chicken 280 taka per kilogram. Under the circumstance, public lives have become very tough. In last two months, prices of the essentials have increased alarmingly. But no initiative is seen from the government to curb the price spiral of the essentials.

The ruling party backed syndicate are making this price spiral just to income abnormal profit which causes huge suffering for the general masses. Recently, commerce minister Tipu Munshi admitted his failure in curbing price hike while addressing in the parliament. He also stated that they will not be able to foil the business syndicate. This statement clearly showed that, the government and ruling party’s preferable businessmen are responsible for this critical situation.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive committee urges the government to break the syndicate of the businessmen and to reduce the price of the essentials in order to bring the commodities within the common’s reach.