The Jatiya Nagorik Committee has called on the government to immediately resume the sales of essential commodities in TCB trucks and withdraw recent hikes in Vat and supplementary duties to alleviate the plight of the country's low-income population.
Addressing a press conference at the organization’s central office in Bangla Motor on Saturday, its Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain criticized the suspension of the truck sales program, which he described as a vital lifeline for marginalized communities.
“The program provided essential commodities at subsidised prices. Halting it has stripped the marginalized of their minimal rights guaranteed by the state,” he said.
Akhtar urged the government to prioritize the welfare of citizens amid soaring market prices.
“Under the current economic conditions, further burdening ordinary people is unacceptable. The sacrifices made to end autocracy must not be in vain,” he added.
The Jatiya Nagorik Committee leader also demanded the government revoke the ordinance increasing Vat and supplementary duties and resume the TCB truck sales program without delay.
Highlighting corruption, Akhtar alleged that $234 billion was siphoned off the country during the previous government’s 15-year rule.
He urged the current administration to take stringent measures to recover the laundered funds and reconsider the terms of International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans to ensure sound economic management.
“The government must adopt prudent measures to safeguard the economy instead of succumbing to harsh loan conditions,” he added.
In response to journalists' questions, Akhtar cautioned against conflating the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 with the Constitution of 1972, a stance he claimed is perpetuated by some political parties.
On the next national election, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee criticized calls for expedited national polls, arguing that such demands disregard public interests.
He also said: “The committee suggested that simultaneous national and local government elections could be conducted if the authorities so desired.”
