Commerce, Industries, Textiles, and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today assumed charge of the Ministry of Commerce. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 18, 2026 (BSS) – Commerce, Industries and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today assured the nation of ample essential commodity stocks for Ramadan, signalling a decisive shift toward result-oriented market management to ensure price stability.

Briefing reporters after assuming charge at the Ministry of Commerce, he emphasized that current inventories and the supply pipeline for daily necessities are robust enough to meet demand both during and after the month of Ramadan.

The Minister provided a detailed assessment of the current pipeline and existing inventory of daily necessities, asserting that the volume of goods is more than sufficient to maintain market equilibrium. 

He dismissed concerns regarding potential shortages, issuing a clear directive to the public that there is no reason for anxiety.

"The stocks of daily necessities currently in our possession and in the pipeline are sufficient to keep the market stable during the month of Ramadan and the period following it. There is no cause for concern for the general public regarding supply," he stated.

Addressing the recurring issue of market syndicates, the Minister signalled a departure from historical verbal warnings, opting for a strategy defined by tangible outcomes.

When questioned on his stance against market manipulation, he refused to provide mere sound bites, instead committing to a philosophy of showing results through work.

Regarding Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the Minister revealed that work has started today on a strategy to defer the transition to ensure the economy is better prepared. 

He emphasized that this process requires seamless coordination between the Commerce Ministry, which initiates the move, and the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

The Minister expressed concern over the current concentration of the country's export profile, noting that a single product category dominates 25% of the market and accounts for 50% of total export income. 

To mitigate this, he laid emphasis on incorporating a wider range of goods into the export basket; actively seeking new international trade destinations and assisting private entities in entering the global trade arena.

He noted that these efforts face significant turbulence due to an unstable global environment. 

Specifically, he cited the American tariff regime and its sudden changes as a source of global uncertainty. 

For a developing nation, the Minister warned, the margin of error is slim, and the country cannot afford the luxury of mistakes caused by external disasters.

The Minister highlighted that both foreign and domestic investments are contingent upon a stable environment.

He characterized the stagnated investment observed over the last two to three years as a huge liability that the country must urgently overcome.

In his concluding remarks, the Minister described his approach as one rooted in teamwork, stating that the success of these ministries is a collective national effort rather than an individual one. 

He called upon the media and the public to act as partners, helping to identify and correct errors as the government works to move the country forward.