Ensure austerity in all spheres

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has again urged all, including the stakeholders in public and private sectors, to maintain austerity in power consumption and other areas amid a rise in global inflation.

If all concerned can pursue austerity, the country will benefit, she said yesterday while chairing the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) this fiscal year.

The PM joined the meeting virtually from the Gono Bhaban while ministers, state ministers, members of the Planning Commission and secretaries concerned attended the meeting at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Later, Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters that the PM urged everyone to maintain austerity in all spheres.

"… The prime minister has asked the government machinery as well as the common people to maintain austerity."

Mannan further said Bangladesh is feeling the pinch of the fuel price hike and the current global volatility.

State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam said the PM reiterated her call for all to maintain austerity and avoid wasting resources. She gave a directive for limiting the use of air conditioners in public offices and also asked government employees not to wear suits in summer. 

Alam mentioned that the PM gave approval to a project for supplying gas to Mymensingh Combined Cycle Power Plant.

Mannan said prices of some items such as rice and edible oil are seeing a downtrend which indicates that inflation will decline in the coming days.

He also said the Ecnec meeting discussed the distribution of seeds, fertiliser and pesticides  among marginal farmers free of cost.