Nothing to worry

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that there was nothing to be worried about the stock market as the government took measures in this regard.

“We are taking steps against those who want to play games centring on the capital market. We will continue to do that,” she said.

On Monday, Dhaka stocks sank to a 27-month low, compelling ag-grieved investors to stage a hunger strike in front of the Dhaka Stock Ex-change building in the capital.

The previous day, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told the House that the government did not have full control over the country’s share market, while the banking sector was now in a fragile state.

Kamal said, “The share market is not under control, but I won’t say that it is not under complete control.”

Sincerely thanking the opposition, Hasina yesterday welcomed the five BNP lawmakers who have recently joined parliament. “I want that the opposition party will play a constructive role in parliament that they are already playing.”

Amid general investors’ demonstrations protesting the fall of index of the capital market, the PM said the government had taken various measures for the market stability.

“We are taking measures so that the stock market remains stable and the index of market does not rise or fall abnormally.”

She, however, asked people to think before investing in the share mar-ket. “It [stock market] is like gambling. You can gain some time, you can lose some time.

“You are happy when you are gaining and [you] blame the government for losing and that is not correct.

“There is nothing to be worried about. We have held meetings to take measures to maintain the stability of the market.”

Amid ongoing criticism over the quality of water supplied by Wasa, Hasina said there was a scarcity of water in the capital. “We have re-solved the crisis.

“Yes, there is a bad odour in water supplied by Wasa at some places. But I want to ask one thing to the citizens -- do you clean your water tanks regularly?

“If you complain about filthy water supplied by Wasa, it will fix the issue as soon as possible.”

Pointing to the jute mill workers’ movement, the PM said the government had taken necessary steps to give them wages. “But I do not understand why these jute mills are not becoming profitable.

“We need to enquire whether there are any problems in the management of the mills.

“We have to find out whether plundering is taking place at the jute mills.”

Hasina once again refuted RaushanErshad’s demand for increasing the age limit to enter public service to 35 years from the existing 30 years.

She asked the country’s people to remain alert against any militant activi-ties and terrorism. “If you see any abnormality at any place, please take necessary steps.

“We need united efforts against any militant activities and terrorism.”

Hasina then said some people were using religion against people. “They are killing innocent people in the name of religion.

“They think that they will be able to go to heaven by killing people. Killing people is a sin; I don’t understand how they are thinking about going to heaven after killing people.”

She claimed that Bangladesh was developing under the leadership of the current government.

Three bills were passed in the five sittings of the second session of par-liament, which began on April 24.