Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday warned of taking stern action against the traders for hiking the prices of essential commodities through manipulation.
“Those who have hiked the price will be found out and action will be taken for hoarding essentials in a planned manner,” she said while addressing a meeting of the Awami League central Working Committee at her official residence Ganabhaban.
It was the first meeting of the AL central body following the party’s formation of the government for fourth consecutive time after a landslide victory in January 7 general elections.
Presidium Members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafarullah, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Central Working Committee Member Abul Hasnat Abdullah, among others, were at the dais.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling party, said punishment would be given through conducting mobile court drives.
“If necessary, they (manipulators) will be sent to jail. Measures will be taken so that no can be able to create unusual situation in the country,” she said.
The sudden price-hike of essentials commodities immediately after the election is a very much abnormal, she said
The premier stressed the need for finding out the manipulators behind this price hike.
“It is not only necessary to find out them, but also take instant actions against them. We will do it in future,” she said.
Urging the countrymen to remain alert so that no one could play with the market, the premier said the country gets a bumper production of paddy this year.
“The price of rice is not supposed to rise during the peak season. The price of essentials are supposed to down at this time. Why does the price of essentials up? If anyone hoards essentials, he/she must be punished,” she said.
The premier alleged that despite hiking the wage in garment sector, some had been trying to wage movement in some areas.
After failing to foil the polls, they (BNP) are now trying to take to the street in a different way. We will not allow them to do so. None will be able to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the countrymen,” she said.
Referring to the recently held general elections, Sheikh Hasina said it was proved again that a free, fair and impartial election could be held under the government.
“Now they (BNP) have opted other ways after failing to wage movement,” she said.
