Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government has taken an initiative to fix fair prices for salt in line with production costs, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in the country’s salt industry and protect the interests of local salt farmers.
He made the remarks while briefing reporters at the Secretariat on Monday after a meeting on improving the living standards of salt farmers. The meeting was presided over by the prime minister.
The home minister said, “The Agriculture Ministry is reviewing the production costs of salt farmers so that they get a fair price for their labour. The demand for industrial and edible salt in the country is also being assessed to determine whether imports are justified.”
He added that after collecting the necessary data and information, a decision will be taken in line with the prime minister’s directives in a way that ensures the country becomes fully self-sufficient in salt production and farmers are not harmed.
Responding to a question from reporters about the post-election situation in India’s West Bengal and tensions along the border, the home minister said: “Border Guard Bangladesh is on the highest alert along the border. A change of government in any Indian state, or any internal administrative decision such as the construction of barbed-wire fencing, is India’s own matter.”
The minister made it clear that Bangladesh maintains diplomatic relations with India’s central government on the basis of sovereign equality. Political changes in any particular Indian state do not affect Bangladesh’s foreign policy or bilateral relations.
He said the BGB remained vigilant round the clock to prevent infiltration and maintain law and order along the border.
On various claims circulating on social media about alleged post-election attacks on minorities in West Bengal and their possible impact, the minister said: “In many cases, old and misleading videos are being used to spread propaganda. So far, neither the Home Ministry nor the Foreign Ministry has received any information confirming such a situation or indicating any negative impact on Bangladesh.”
He urged people not to be misled by such propaganda.