Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (January 22) instructed authorities concerned to take legal action, including sending the market manipulators to jail, as part of measures to control the country’s commodity prices.

She came up with the order while chairing the party’s working committee meeting held at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka this evening.

“The price hike of rice is unusual and intentional during the peak season. We will take stern action, even will send the market manipulators to jail if necessary,” she warned.

The prime minister issued the warning as prices of many commodities including rice surged in the market shortly after the 12th parliamentary election held on 7 January.

Suddenly, the country's readymade garment workers have taken to the streets just before the national election, focusing on their wages, she said.

“The movement of the readymade garment workers was also premeditated,” said the prime minister.

Earlier on 15 January, Sheikh Hasina, during the first cabinet meeting of the new government, directed all concerned to take steps to check the price hike of essential commodities.

In accordance with the directive, the food ministry subsequently formed mobile courts and deployed them across the country to make the government’s efforts successful.

Meanwhile, the Food Ministry in a statement this evening said that the mobile courts conducted drives at different business establishments across the eight divisions and fined Tk 21,92,000 from traders for illegally creating stockpiles of rice and operating rice trading without licence.

BDST: 2142 HRS, JAN 22, 2024
MSK