PM warns onion hoarders

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government wants to see whether there is any conspiracy behind the sudden hike in the price of onions in the country.

“Onion price is a problem right now…It is true that onion prices have surged in different countries, but I don’t know why the price has soared abnormally in our country. We want to see if anyone is involved in this…” she said.

Hasina, also the chief of the ruling Awami League, said this while inaugurating the third national council of Awami Swechchhasebak League, an associate body of the ruling Awami League, at the Suhrawardy Udyan, reports the UNB.

Swechchhasebak League’s councillors from across the country joined the inauguration of their new leadership.

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of the newly elected leaders of the central Swechchhasebak League and its Dhaka north and south units from the council session held at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the afternoon.

Nirmal Ranjan Guha and Afzal Babu were named president and general secretary of Swechchhasebak League.

Nirmal was vice-president of the outgoing committee and is also the convener of the council preparatory committee, while Azfal was also vice-president of the outgoing committee.   

Ishak Miah and Anisur Rahman Nayeem were named president and general secretary of the party’s Dhaka north unit, while Kamrul Hasan Ripon and Tarek Sayeed were named president and general secretary of its south unit.

At the inauguration session, Sheikh Hasina said the government had taken initiatives to import onions in cargo planes to bring down its price, reports UNB. 

“The planes carrying onions will land in the country either tomorrow [today] or day after tomorrow [Monday],” she said.

It is natural that the production of a crop may increase or decrease due to weather, she said, adding that there might be some people who want to make a quick buck by raising the price through hoarding. “But they have to think about the fact that onions cannot be preserved for a long time…they might rot.”

The PM alleged that when the country is advancing and people are living in peace, vested interests are trying to confuse people by creating issues. 

She said the onion price in India is also very high and it is currently being sold there at Tk 100. “But there’s one state [in India] from where onion export is not allowed…The onion price in that state is lower.”

Hasina said the people of the country have to be aware of not bringing killers, corrupt people, and money-launderers to power again.

“Their return to power means the suffering of people, putting the country on the verge of destruction and resuming of militancy and terrorism, as they are involved in militancy and terrorism,” she said.

Stressing the importance of maintaining the pace of advancement, Hasina said the government wants to eradicate drugs, terrorism and corruption, and the drive against these social menaces will continue.

“We have to ensure peace and security for the people of Bangladesh and if the peaceful atmosphere prevails in the country, it is possible to develop the country…” she said.

The PM went on to ask why one has to earn money through corruption and theft. “The people of the country won’t tolerate living a lavish life and showing off with the money earned through terrorist acts, extortion, corruption and dishonesty.”

She said the government has been implementing massive programmes to ensure development and the welfare of the country and its people in such a way that no one is left behind.

Criticising BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, the PM said Zia started the politics of killing and destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War, while Khaleda established terrorism and militancy in the country.

They also rewarded killers of the Father of The Nation and war criminals by making them ministers, members of parliament and giving them blood spattered national flags, she said.

Hasina called upon leaders and workers of the Swechhashebok League to work with the mentality of serving people and strengthen the organisation to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Obaidul Quader and Awami League Joint Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim were present at the council, with Nirmal Ranjan Guha in the chair as the convener of the council preparatory committee.