WPB to check soaring prices of essentials

The Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) will soon form Jono Protirodh Committees (people's resistance committees) across the country to check soaring prices of essentials.
The committee at grassroots level will monitor markets, stop stocking of commodities, establish consumer rights, ensure supply to markets and sale under OMS, and force the government to start rationing system.
This was stated by Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon while addressing a press conference at Shaheed Asad Auditorium at Paltan in the city yesterday.
He warned the government of launching a tough programme if the price hike of essentials is not contained before the first day of Bangla New Year.
Menon also reiterated the demand for lifting the state of emergency and announcing the specific date of election saying that only a democratic government can successfully manage the food and price situation.
“We will fight price hike of essentials taking the mass people with us, as they are the worst sufferers, and for this we will form Jono Protirodh Committees across the country with the participation of people from all walks of life,” he said.
“It is a matter of sorrow that we are debating whether the present situation is famine or not, rather than taking steps to reduce the sufferings of people, ” he added.
Menon said the government should undertake immediate steps taking the people with them to face food and price situation.
In a written speech at the press conference, acting general secretary of the party Nurul Hasan said, “The WPB hopes that the government would take effective steps to face the food and price situation within the first day of Bangla New Year. If not the party would announce its programme after evaluating the situation.”
The WP also put forward a 16-point recommendation for the government to face the price situation.
It alleged that a syndicate is controlling the rice market and taking away high profits by increasing the prices unreasonably.
The recommendations include forming price controlling authority, introducing rationing system for low-income people and reducing import taxes.
Politburo members Haider Akbar Khan Rano and Fazle Hossain Badshah and executive committee member Abdus Sattar were present at the press conference.