People left in the lurch even during Ramadan: Fakhrul

People are in an uncomfortable situation even during the holy month of Ramadan due to the government's failure to control the price hikes on essential goods, BNP Sectary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Sunday.

"We're not able to spend our days in peace and comfort even now during the month of Ramadan. The price of every essential item has shot up. The price of LPG has also been raised," he added.

Speaking at an iftar party, the BNP leader said the government has failed to control the market and the economy. "Unfortunately, they have created a terrible situation in the country by completely destroying democracy."

BNP hosted the iftar party for orphan students and Islamic scholars on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at the city's Dhaka Ladies Club.

Fakhrul said they hoped that prices of essentials would go down during Ramadan. "We also expected that the commodity prices would, at least, not go up further. Unfortunately, the price of everything has spiralled upwards abnormally," he said.

The BNP leader said their party has been registering their protest against the continued price hikes of essential goods, on behalf of the people, through different programmes.

He strongly opposed the government's decision to increase the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Condemning the move, the BNP leader said after the increase in the prices of LPG in February and March, the government raised its prices this month for the third month citing a high cost in the international market.

Consumers will now have to buy LPG at a higher price as the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has re-fixed the price of a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk1,439 from Tk1,391.