Staff Reporter :
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul expressed regret over the hardship caused to the people due to the price hikes, offering an apology and emphasizing that the government is working diligently to improve the situation through collaborative efforts.
“We are working very hard, together, to resolve the issue,” Nazrul stated during the “Ajker Patrika” program on Channel I late Thursday night.
Nazrul expressed optimism that the impact of the floods was diminishing and that with winter approaching, the situation would improve considerably.
“In some areas, we are already seeing improvements,” he added.
He acknowledged the influence of syndicates in the import of commodities during the previous government, noting that dismantling such powerful entities is a challenging task but not an impossible one.
He emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to address the issues related to essential commodities, highlighting the steps taken to cool down the market.
Nazrul expressed that the issue of rising prices was a source of mental anguish for the government, and he assured the public that efforts were being made to bring relief.
Besides, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday called on the interim government to take immediate and pragmatic steps to address the soaring prices of essential goods, alleviating the financial burden on the public.
Meanwhile, there was some relief in the egg market, where prices dropped by Tk 25 to 30 per dozen at various markets in the capital, following measures taken by the government.
In a virtual discussion, Tarique Rahman urged the government to prioritise dismantling the market syndicate that had been established during the previous regime.
“People from all walks of life, particularly low-income groups and small businesses, are enduring significant hardships due to the unprecedented price hikes of essential items,” the BNP leader said.
He added that mere promises are insufficient while the people remain struggling to make ends meet.
“I call upon the interim government to take immediate, pragmatic steps to lower commodity prices and provide relief to the public,” Tarique emphasized.
In local kitchen markets, egg prices have decreased, with retail prices falling by Tk 25-30 per dozen. The price has dropped from Tk 180 per dozen last week to Tk 155-160 this week.
Mohammad Jobayer, a resident of Dhaka’s Kallyanpur area, said, “I bought a dozen eggs for Tk 150, which were priced at Tk 180 last week.”
Saiful Islam, an egg trader at Karwan Bazar, noted that the increase in egg supply has led to the price drop.
To make eggs more affordable, the government has reduced the import duty on eggs from 25% to 5%, a measure that will remain in place until 15 December.
Additionally, corporate entities have announced plans to supply two million eggs daily to Dhaka’s main wholesale markets, a move coordinated by the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council.