Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday sat for a meeting with leaders of the 14-party alliance at Ganabhaban with the rising prices of essentials and the next general election on top of the agenda.
During the meeting, the prime minister and Awami League president said the government was trying to lower the prices and identify those who were using the Russia-Ukraine war as an excuse to hike them.
“The government will now find out why the prices went up despite having a stock of edible oil in the country. Some businessmen are behind this, and we are making a list. Action will be taken against them,” Sheikh Hasina said, according to meeting sources.
She added that measures were being taken to keep the prices of daily essentials under control during the upcoming Ramadan.
Initially, the government will provide special cards to 10 million people so that they can purchase essential commodities at lower prices.
Quoting the prime minister, sources said: “If needed, another 10 million people from the lower-middle income group will get family cards to buy essential goods.”
The prime minister also said the 3.8 million people who received financial support from the government during the Covid-19 pandemic would be included in the initial list of 10 million people.
Regarding the price hike of edible oil, the prime minister said she had directed officials concerned to form a task force.
“Soybean oil is imported largely from Brazil, while most of the palm oil comes from Malaysia. It is true that the prices increased significantly in the international market and the cargo fare went up due to the war. We are taking measures to counteract this, but there is not much we can do when prices rise in the international market. We need to compromise a little,” she said.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, only two members from each political party in the alliance were allowed to attend the meeting.
AL to participate in next polls together with 14 party alliance
The ruling Awami League will participate in the next general election, slated to be held within the next two years, alongside the 14-party alliance as in previous polls, according to the prime minister.
Several political leaders, including 14 party alliance coordinator Amir Hossain Amu and Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Chairman Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari, confirmed the prime minister’s remark.
Meeting insiders said Sheikh Hasina had given instructions to increase the organizational capacity of every component of the14 party alliance.
“No party except members of the 14-party alliance can replace the Awami league, so you need to increase your capacity and strength,” they quoted her as saying.
Some leaders of the 14-party alliance raised questions over the recent local government elections in the country. In response, leaders of the ruling party said some members of the alliance needed to raise their popularity, so that they can claim some seats when certain other parties choose not to participate.
Rashed Khan Manon, President of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, raised the issue of Hefazat-e-Islam, but the prime minister was disinterested.
“The government must work for all religions in the country, as everyone is entitled to equal rights. We have to look after everyone and ensure that no one can misuse others,” Sheikh Hasina said.
She also slammed unspecified political parties for criticizing the activities of the government while accepting the facilities it provides.
Furthermore, the prime minister came down heavily on the BNP for refusing to attend the dialogues with President Abdul Hamid on the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
She questioned how the BNP could participate in any elections when it did not have any clarity of leadership.
Sheikh Hasina also urged leaders of the 14-party alliance to stand united against conspiracies about the government.
Russia-Ukraine war: 14-party alliance agrees with govt
The meeting also discussed the voting on the UN General Assembly resolution reprimanding Russia for invading Ukraine, on which Bangladesh abstained from voting.
The resolution, supported by 141 of the assembly's 193 member states, was passed in a rare emergency session called by the UN Security Council.
Bangladesh was among the 35 countries that abstained from voting, alongside India, Pakistan, and China. Leaders of the 14-party alliance supported the government’s decision.
Some alliance leaders also thought the recent sanctions against RAB by the US were unfair, especially as the US had not declared any sanctions against Israel after their aggression against Palestine.