Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged the business community to refrain from making hefty profits keeping the people hostage.
“We urge the business community not to be greedy and not to pocket hefty profits making the people hostage during the Holy Ramadan. All must remain alert against illegal hoarding, storage and syndication,” he said.
Obaidul Quader said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina never allowed any syndicate nor provided any shelter to them. She (Sheikh Hasina) has not remained silent about any issue that creates a problem for the people. She would not sit idle this time also. She would take necessary steps to protect the interest of the countrymen.”
Mentioning that the government is alert against this dishonest clique, he said they won't allow any dishonest clique to manipulate prices of essential commodities during the month of Ramadan.
“The commerce ministry has already taken different steps, including beefing up the market monitoring,” he added.
In the present changing world, activities of a country affect other countries as well, the minister said, adding that abnormal price hikes of some essential commodities in the international market due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis has influenced the market globally and consequently, prices of some commodities have also increased in Bangladesh.
Quader said the government has already intensified the selling of essential commodities in the open market through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to bring stability in the market and if necessary, it would be expanded further.