Tougher actions against onion price hikers: Hasan

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DHAKA, Nov 17, 2019 (BSS)-Sounding a note of warning against unscrupulous traders responsible for price hike of onion, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the government is determined to take tougher actions against those involved in spiraling prices of onion after identifying them.

“It couldn’t be a principle of doing business by holding people hostage and it’s not acceptable,” he said, addressing a memorial meeting at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club here.

Bhashani Oikya Jote (BOJ) and NAP Bhashani jointly organized the meeting marking the 43rd death anniversary of Maulana Bhashani with BOJ Convenor Bangadip MA Bhashani in the chair.

The information minister said the intelligence agencies are in the field to identify the culprits involved in price hiking of onion. “The government will go for taking actions against those involved in the spiraling prices of the essential goods,” he added.

Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already declared that the prices of onion will be brought down soon as the government is importing this essential cooking ingredient.

Besides, the locally produced onions will be available in the market soon, he added.

“The TCB is selling onion in fare prices in different places of the country and the prices will decrease soon,” he said.

Pointing to a protest programme of BNP over the onion issue, the information minister thanked BNP saying, “I want to extend thanks to BNP and its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as they have capitalized on onion leaving the politics over the Begum Khaleda Zia’s health issue.”

He said the government wants constructive criticism from the opposition parties. “The opposition parties will criticize government’s failure. But they also should talk about the successes of the government in different sectors of the society,” Hasan, also Publicity and Publication Secretary of Awami League, said.

He said the world leaders, eminent economists and novel laureates are praising the unprecedented development of the Bangladesh government during the last over 10 and a half years.

Paying glowing tributes to the memories of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, the legendary political figure of the country, Hasan said Bhasani had worked throughout his entire life for establishing rights of farmers-workers and the common people.

He said politics is a ‘vow’. “Bhasani, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and their contemporary leaders didn’t do politics for power, he added. They did politics for the welfare of the common people and to change the society and the country as well,” the information minister added.

“But, now we see merchandising of every sector of the society, even in politics. The politicians are joining other parties for their own benefits. Many leaders of BNP including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Rizvi Ahmed and Moudud Ahemed did politics of Mawlana Bhasani. They have joined BNP to take the test of power,” he said.

Awami League Dhaka South City Unit General Secretary Shahe Alam Murad, AL leaders Boloram Poddar and MA Karim and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote General Secretary Arun Sarker Rana, among others, addressed the meeting.