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Published : 02 Feb 2025, 07:14 PM
Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured consumers that the supply of essential goods will remain stable during the month of Ramadan.
“The commerce ministry is trying to manage the market by coordinating with stakeholders who are involved in it.”
“So far, there has been no such problem, and I also want to assure you that God willing, there will be no problem during Ramadan," Bashir said speaking at a policy conclave organised by Daily Bonik Barta in Dhaka on Sunday.
Citing the steady supply of key imported commodities, he said that essentials such as sugar, oil, chickpeas, dates, onions, and potatoes are readily available in the market.
The central theme of the policy conclave was “Rational Prices of Food Products: Exploring Strategies for Market Supervision”.
Bashir highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing market transparency and fairness.
“We want to make the Competition Commission completely independent. We want to move towards ensuring that there is no anti-competitive activity in the market, and that there is no interference by the ministry.”
He voiced sharp criticism of the country’s economic policies, claiming that they disproportionately favour the wealthy.
“Our policies are made to benefit the wealthy class. These policies are not adopted to benefit consumers or the common people. There has been no significant investment in the country over the past 15 years. How will jobs be created if there is no investment? From whom will we collect taxes?” said Bashir.
Criticising the Awami League government, Bashir said: “I think a PhD degree should be conferred on Sheikh Hasina. Because if the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram has to flee, then you can easily assume the extent to which all sectors have been destroyed.”
Bashir also described the condition of the banking and financial sectors, claiming that over the past 15 years, banks have devolved into "criminal institutions”.
He added, “Islami Bank has been destroyed. The law has been corrupted. Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, or TCB, has been destroyed for 15 years. Only 142 people carried out an operation worth Tk 120 billion.”
Bashir also raised concerns about irregularities in the TCB’s beneficiary list, noting that although it claimed a total of 10 million beneficiaries, an initial verification uncovered 4.3 million fraudulent entries.
“I think if we verify further, another 2 to 2.5 million fakes will be found. Meanwhile, traders do not participate in TCB tenders. I request you to participate.”
Emphasising the importance of long-term planning over short-term solutions, Bashir said: “We want to limit government procurement for rice.
Government procurement should be import-dependent. Then the supply in the local market will be normal and prices can be controlled.”
