PM Hasina: Covid fallouts, Russia-Ukraine war reason behind price hike

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday blamed the Covid-19 fallouts and Russia-Ukraine war behind the soaring prices of commodities.

“The prices of essentials have marked a rise not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world due to the Covid-19 induced recession in the global economy. That’s why the prices have increased in every country of the world,” she said.

PM 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 organized the discussion at its central office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue. Sheikh Hasina joined the program virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Besides, the premier 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.”

“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 goods.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has made arrangements for monitoring the market. She urged all to utilize every inch of land for farming to avoid any kind of food scarcity in the country.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech at the program.

Awami League presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hassan Mahmud, Awami League Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Awami League Secretary of Labor and Manpower Habibur Rahman Siraj, Dhaka South Awami League General Secretary Humayun Kabir and Dhaka North Awami League General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke on the occasion.