'Commodity prices are currently at a tolerable level, hopefully will remain the same'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today assured that the prices of essential commodities in the country will remain steady during Ramadan.

She said this while replying to a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Fakhrul Imam from Mymensingh-8.

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"Commodity prices are currently at a tolerable level and the government is hopeful that the market will remain stable in the holy month," she said.

Sheikh Hasina highlighted the various steps taken by the government to control the prices of commodities.

She said that a decision has been taken to sell TCB products at subsidised prices in two phases before the start of Ramadan and in the middle of the month for one crore low-income people in city corporations, districts, upazila, municipal, and union parishad levels.

"Accordingly, the TCB's products will be sold in line with the set criteria under the supervision of district and upazila administrations."

Sheikh Hasina said that TCB's products are being sold in trucks in Dhaka South and North City Corporations as well as Barishal City Corporation.

She said the international market price of wheat has increased by 60.72 percent while soybean by 26.41 percent, palm crude oil by 35.71 percent and raw sugar 8.25 percent alongside the hike of shipping cost by 14.5 percent.

But, the government has taken various measures, including the withdrawal of VAT on cooking oil, market monitoring and ensuring the ample supply of goods, to rein in spiralling prices, the Leader of the House said.

"As a result of all these initiatives, the prices are at a tolerable level. We hope that the prices of essential commodities will remain tolerable in the coming month of Ramadan," she hoped.