But so far the CTG has failed to control the spiraling prices of essentials and just like the past BNPalliance government they do not see the role of any syndication or organised middlemen operating in the system. The government tends to justify the price-escalation due to international trading mechanism. But there is a limit, people are not buying this view now they do not believe that the prices of potato, chili, brinjal, tomato, bean, spices, local rice, fish etc. are controlled by the WTO or any other country! If we are to accept the 'international' logic, then the government should also raise the salary levels of all professional groups accordingly! The people in the street feel that the BDR operated fair-price shops are only cosmetic measures in urban areas (running kitchen markets cannot be the regular job for any trained defence force!). Please try to realise what the people feel in rural areas where many primary markets (haats) or collecting centres of farm products have been ruthlessly destroyed or dismantled for no earthly reasons whatsoever, thereby, dislocating the chain of supplies of farm products. The government is also telling us of smuggling of fertilisers and fuels across the border. Well, didn't India put barbed wire in most parts of the border and there is BDR surveillance along our side? This logic is not quite acceptable too.

The government should look in to the fertiliser issue more closely. It was the BNP-alliance government which drastically changed the local distribution system to the advantage of one of their key partners. We now have unrest in those areas where that partner-party has overwhelming followers and they still control the distribution system. Mind that after a season of bad crops for shortage of fertilisers (and also diesel for irrigation after the monsoon season), you will face widespread food shortage in the country! And, yes, you have to be prepared to face it.

Lastly, the CTG is not saying anything about the same particular party that reaped enormous political benefits since 1975 after the killing of Bangabandhu, despite having expressed opposition to the concept of the creation of Bangladesh and having given shelters to the war criminals. While encouraging structural reforms and looking at the sources of funds of major political parties, mainly, the AL and the BNP, the government appears to have given a total clearance to this particular party in matters of financial sources as well as discreet political activities. No wonder that with the arrest of the AL leader sweets were distributed in the name of Jagrata Janata in places where there are large adherents of this party (as in certain parts of Dhaka city, Rajshahi, Pabna etc.). Needless to say that this party is also suspected of having links with the JMB and now the question may arise whether the Jagrata Janata is a veiled appearance of the JMB allegedly patronised by this particular party!

Are we now to believe that this party will continue to be benefited from our neutral CTG at the cost of our national ideology, hard-earned independence and long term political stability?