"The government should initiate alternative marketing system to keep the prices of essential stable," he said at a discussion at a city hotel yesterday.

Switzerland-Bangladesh Business Forum (SBBF) organised the discussion on Problems, Prospect and Future of Bangladesh Economy.

SBBF President Ashfaque ur Rahman chaired it. Professor AK Azad Chowdhury, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), was also a discussant.

Abul Barkat, who is a professor of DU's Economics Department and general secretary of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), suggested that the government should purchase food items worth Tk10000crore in order to supply those to the market at a subsidised price.

Appreciating the high remittance flow in recent years, he said unless this money is utilised in the production sector, it may mount inflationary pressure.

He also advocated adoption of homegrown development policies instead of donors' prescribed policies.

Pointing to the huge potentials of pharmaceuticals, ceramic, by-cycle and jute sectors, Professor Abul Barkat said these sectors need government support to flourish in the global market.