Ramadan Price Hike: BNP blames AL-backed syndicate

The BNP yesterday alleged that a ruling party-backed syndicate was making money by hiking prices of daily essentials in the month of Ramadan.

"An illegal business syndicate belonging to the ruling party is taking away thousands of crores of taka from people by increasing prices of rice, pulses, salt, oil and fruits in this Ramadan,” Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, party's senior joint secretary general, told journalists at a press briefing at party's Nayapaltan central office.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

He said it was a big question whether the commerce minister failed to keep his assurance of controlling prices of essentials or mocked people in this regard.

About the coarse rice price, the BNP leader said its price was Tk 48-50 each kg. "Rice is being sold in Bangladesh at the highest price in the world, which causes immense sufferings to the people.”

Rizvi criticised Finance Minister AMA Muhith for his "rigid" stance on excise duty on bank deposits and 15 percent uniform VAT.

“The government and its ministers are making a mockery with people over excise duty and 15 percent uniform VAT after losing their political sense,” he said.

Claiming that there is no existence of excise duty on bank deposits across the world, Rizvi said, “Tk 800 will be deducted if anyone keeps Tk 1 lakh in any bank. Service charge will also be added to this.”

He said the government "created loopholes" in the national budget by imposing excise duty and increasing 15 percent uniform VAT, which would badly affect the common people.

The BNP leader also alleged that the government was involved in massive corruption.