Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday blamed the Covid-19 fallouts and Russia-Ukraine war behind the soaring prices.
“The prices of essentials have marked a rise not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world due to the Covid-induced recession in the global economy. That’s why the prices have increased in every country of the world,” she said.
Hasina said this while addressing a discussion marking the Historic March 7 Speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971.
Awami League organised the discussion at its central office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Besides, Hasina said, an unwarranted situation erupted when Russia attacked Ukraine. “The negative impact of that incident has struck the world and we’re also suffering from that.”
The Prime Minister said maybe the prices of some items are going up at the domestic market due to the impacts of the price hike on the international market.
“Naturally, the prices go up at the domestic market when that goes up on the world market as its impact falls everywhere,” she said.
Besides, she said, there are some people who always try to make money taking advantage of such a situation. “They want to make quick bucks through hoarding of goods.”
Hasina said the government has made arrangements for monitoring the market.
She urged all to utilise every inch of land for farming to avoid any kind of food scarcity in the country.
The PM said that Bangabandhu’s historic speech of March 7 will encourage the Bangalis decades after decades.
She recalled that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation the speech was banned by the killers so no one can broadcast and listen to it..
She said it was unfortunate that the speech that inspire the Bangalis to gain independence was banned. .
In this connection, she said that many leaders and activists of Awami League and Chatra League had been tortured and killed for playing this speech.
She mentioned that the anti-independence regime distorted the history of the Independence for long 21 years.
“There were attempts to erase the spirit of the Liberation War, bloodshed of millions of martyrs and struggle of the people from the history. Now this is proved that no one can erase the truth,” she said.
“This speech will remain as an eternal speech in the world,” she added.
“This speech still motivates us to go forward and free the country from oppression and deprivation,” she said.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid presided over the programme where Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, among others, spoke.
At the beginning of the programme Bangabandhu’s iconic March 7 speech was played.
Hasina also witnessed the cultural programme.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech at the programme.
AL Presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, AL joint general secretary Dr Hassan Mahmud, AL organising SM Kamal Hossain, AL Secretary of Labor and Manpower Habibur Rahman Siraj, Dhaka South AL general secretary Humayun Kabir and Dhaka North AL general secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke on the occasion.
