BNP instigating commodity price hike: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud Thursday said BNP is instigating the increase of commodity prices as they are talking nonsense despite knowing the fact that prices of essential commodities have increased in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and war between Russia and Ukraine.

"The prices of commodities have increased across the world due to Covid-19 and the recent war. The prices of food products have remained highest in the last 13 years. The prices of essentials have also increased in the US, India and Pakistan. But the prices in Bangladesh have not increased like in Europe," he said.

The minister added: "Prices of some import-oriented products have increased. And BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are giving meaningless statements despite knowing the entire global situation." Hasan told reporters after inaugurating an exhibition on 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visit to Japan in 1973,' at Liberation War Museum in the city's Agargaon.

He said some dishonest businesspeople try to increase prices when they get an opportunity. But, the government is taking stringent actions against them as well as taking steps so that lower-income group people can buy essentials at affordable prices from TCB, he added. He said BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul are encouraging and advising the BNP-backed businessmen to increase the prices of commodities.

"The government would take tough actions against these dishonest traders," said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary. While inaugurating the exhibition, the minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman saw Japan as a unique example of rapid development after the devastation of the Second World War. He wanted Bangladesh to become a developed nation in a short time like Japan, he added.

But, he said, many dreams of Bangabandhu could not be fulfilled as he was killed brutally only three and a half years after the independence of the country. Now, Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is materializing his dreams, he added.

Mentioning that Japan is Bangladesh's faithful friend, Hasan also hoped that Japan will remain beside Bangladesh in the coming days. Japan Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Nauki addressed the function as a special guest while Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Haque gave the welcome speech on the occasion.

Later, the minister visited the exhibition along with the guests.