After a revolution in any country, the new interim government has to go through some challenges. A kind of anxiety is settling upon all classes of people. The recent unrest has given a major shake-up to the country's economy and caused an increased disparity, because all people of all classes do not get the benefits of economic growth equally.
Most people in our country are lower middle class. Those who work day after day. People's lives today are dramatically altered by the unbridled increase in the price of daily necessities. People's incomes are not increasing at the same proportional rate while the prices of daily necessities are increasing at an astronomical rate.
The income of lower middle class people has declined today as a result of the global recession and the mass uprising of the country's student society. These people are now struggling to meet their needs. The condition of labourers and day labourers is deplorable. So one of the major challenges of the new interim government is to control commodity prices.
But the prices of necessary things are skyrocketing. Once increased, there is typically no scope for a decrease.
One of the reasons for the price hike is the syndicate of traders. No previous government has taken any necessary steps to break this syndicate. Whenever they get any excuse, the syndicates raise the prices of daily necessities and steal crores of Takas from people's pockets. Many governments have gone, many have come, but the trend of bad omens has continued to this day.
And if this continues, it will be difficult to sustain the lives of lower middle class people. People all over the country are looking towards the interim government as a result of the uprising. So at this time it is imperative that the interim government take steps to control the market. This will spread hope in the public mind.
Institutions responsible for market regulation like TCB, Consumer Protection Directorate should take strong action. Liaison committees should be formed with the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement with the institutions in charge. The fruit will easily break up the syndicate of traders and retreat to make tough decisions on the price of imported goods.
People and traders should be made aware about the Consumer Rights Act. Punitive action should be taken against the illegal syndicate holders as per the Consumer Affairs Act.
The interim government should pay more attention to prevent unscrupulous traders from illegally stockpiling goods. A monitoring cell should be formed for anti-discrimination students.
Above all, a movement should be made against all Janata syndicates like anti-discrimination students to control the price of goods. Unscrupulous traders should be brought to book where syndicates and out-of-reach prices of essential commodities can be seen.
As a result of these measures, the rise in commodity prices is bound to go down. The new interim government will have to be a bit more tactful in controlling the market. A pleasant smile of relief will return to the faces of all people and trust the interim government in any situation.
Md Nazmul Hasan is an Agriculturist and a Senior Manager of Dhaka Group. Email: [email protected].
