The Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JNC) has urged the government to immediately reinstate the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) truck sales programme and reverse recent hikes in Value Added Tax (VAT) and supplementary duties to provide relief to low-income citizens grappling with soaring living costs.
Addressing a press conference at the organisation’s central office in Bangla Motor, JNC Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain expressed grave concern over the suspension of the TCB’s subsidised truck sales.
Describing the initiative as a “lifeline” for marginalised communities, he criticised its discontinuation, stating, “The programme provided essential commodities at subsidised prices. Halting it has stripped the marginalised of their minimal rights guaranteed by the state.”
Hossain emphasised the need for prioritising public welfare during the current economic crisis, where inflation and market instability have pushed essential goods beyond the reach of many. “Under the current economic conditions, further burdening ordinary people is unacceptable. The sacrifices made to end autocracy must not be in vain,” he said.
The JNC also called for the immediate withdrawal of an ordinance that has increased VAT and supplementary duties, arguing that the additional fiscal burden disproportionately impacts the less privileged.
Highlighting corruption concerns, Hossain alleged that $234 billion had been illicitly siphoned out of the country during the previous government’s 15-year tenure. He urged the current administration to take strong measures to recover these funds, which could significantly ease the nation’s economic struggles.
Hossain also called for a reconsideration of the terms of International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans, which, he suggested, must align with the country’s broader economic interests and fiscal stability. “Sound economic management is critical to preventing further distress among ordinary citizens,” he added.
Responding to questions from reporters, Hossain cautioned against conflating the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 with the Constitution of 1972. He argued that certain political parties perpetuate this confusion to serve their own agendas.
On the matter of the next national election, the JNC dismissed calls for expedited polls as being against public interest. Instead, the organisation suggested the possibility of conducting simultaneous national and local government elections if deemed necessary by the authorities.
In conclusion, the Jatiya Nagorik Committee stressed the urgency of addressing the economic struggles of the nation’s low-income population.
The reinstatement of the TCB truck sales programme and withdrawal of recent VAT hikes, according to the JNC, are critical first steps in alleviating public suffering and restoring faith in the government’s commitment to citizen welfare.
