Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has said the government will adopt a "hard-line" approach to control rising commodity prices.
He made the remarks during an exchange meeting organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat's media centre on Tuesday.
Asif Mahmud said that the government is encouraging entrepreneurs to bypass middlemen by purchasing products directly from farmers and selling them in Dhaka.
He highlighted the need to reactivate the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), noting that its operations have been hindered by political influences, particularly from individuals linked to the Awami League and Chhatra League who hold dealership positions.
During the session, Asif Mahmud also criticized media coverage during the student movement, claiming television channels failed to provide an accurate depiction, while newspapers played a more supportive role. He emphasized the need for media reform.
Addressing questions from journalists, Asif Mahmud attributed the rising prices of daily essentials to the aftermath of floods, which disrupted the balance between supply and demand.
He acknowledged the existence of market syndicates and assured that efforts to dismantle these groups were ongoing.
He added that the government has information that some corporations are deliberately inflating prices, and they will face action under the Special Powers Act.
Responding to further queries, he explained that syndicates, which had previously been controlled by members of the Awami League and Chhatra League, are still active.
He mentioned that businessmen continue to maintain these syndicates by collaborating with politicians to protect their interests.
“While extortionists are being arrested, the problem persists as others quickly take their place,” he said. “The government is working to address the root cause of these issues and needs the support of political parties to succeed.”
Asif Mahmud acknowledged that rectifying 16 years of damage cannot be done in six months and estimated it would take around 10 years to fix.
Regarding the Ministry of Labour and Employment, he noted that little has been done to create employment opportunities.
He mentioned that the government is considering the establishment of a dedicated employment department to address this gap, following the model of other countries.
When asked about cricketer Shakib Al Hasan's legal situation, Asif Mahmud said that there are currently no legal barriers preventing Shakib from travelling to or from the country.
He clarified that legal matters are under the jurisdiction of the courts and the Ministry of Law.
He emphasized the government's responsibility to ensure the security of players and reiterated that, as far as his ministry is aware, there are no legal obstacles concerning Shakib's movements. However, if the court issues an order, it would be a matter for the judiciary to address.