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JS body blames price surge on extortion

SHAKHAWAT LITON
The parliamentary standing committee on the food ministry yesterday blamed the price spiral of essentials on the government's failure to stop extortion on the highways and other places.
The committee comprising members of both the ruling alliance and opposition Jatiya Party (Ershad) also blasted Food Minister Abdullah Al Noman for failing to check prices of essentials and said he cannot shrug off his responsibility.
Meeting sources said Noman
defended himself saying it was not possible to bring market prices down unless the government succeeded in stopping extortion and reducing transportation cost.
The minister noted rice price varies in different markets. Although there is sufficient stock of rice, some unscrupulous businessmen are selling it at higher prices, he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the parliamentary standing committee on the commerce ministry disagreed with the ministry on the prices of essentials. The committee also decided to hold a special meeting on November 5 on the issue.
Ruling BNP lawmaker Ebadur Rahman Chowdhury initiated the discussion on the price hike although it was not on the agenda of yesterday's meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The former state minister for relief and disaster management said the government should have controlled market price in the right time.
"Now people criticise us more because remuneration of ministers and lawmakers has increased but their income has not,'' he remarked. The committee's lone opposition member Noor Mohammad Mandal echoed the sentiment of Ebadur and said, "The prime failure of this government is an uncontrolled market. It is now clear the government does not have the power to control prices of essentials,'' the Jatiya Party lawmaker said.
BNP lawmaker Abul Khayer Bhuiyan demanded subsidy to reduce prices of essentials.
Ruling alliance component Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Maulana Abdul Khaleque Mandal explained the reasons behind the price upswing of essentials, specially vegetables. Elected from Bagerhat, Mandal said extortion on the highways from the south-west region to Dhaka has led to rise in transportation cost that eventually increased market prices.
"It is possible to reduce prices of vegetables by stopping such extortion,'' he suggested.
The parliamentary body also discussed the food stock. The food ministry informed it 6,26,463 tonnes of rice and 2,33,948 tonnes of wheat are now in stock. The committee expressed satisfaction at this.
Committee Chairman Mosharaf Hossain Mongu chaired the meeting attended by its members and officials concerned.