Prices of essentials to stay tolerable during Ramadan: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday assured that the prices of essential commodities in the country will remain tolerable during Ramadan.

“Commodity prices are currently at a tolerable level. We hope that the prices of essential commodities will remain stable and tolerable in the coming month of Ramadan,” she said.

She said this while replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam (Mymensingh-8) during PM’s question-answer session.

Hasina highlighted the various steps taken by the government to control the prices of commodities amid global price hike.

She said that TCB is selling essentials at subsidised prices in two phases- before the start of Ramadan and in the middle of the month for one crore low-income people across the country.

“Accordingly, the TCB's products will be sold in line with the set criteria under the supervision of district and upazila administrations,” she said.

Hasina said that TCBs products are being sold in trucks in Dhaka South and North City Corporations as well as Barishal City Corporation. 

She said in the international market price of wheat has been increased by 60.72 per cent while soybean by 26.41 per cent, palm crude oil by 35.71 per cent and raw sugar 8.25 per cent alongside the hike of shipping cost by 14.5 per cent. 

The government, she said, has taken various measures, including the withdrawal of VAT on cooking oil, market monitoring and ensuring the ample supply of goods, to rein in spiraling prices, reports UNB.