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Cabinet decides to cut diesel price

Fertiliser subsidy to be raised; directive to curb essentials prices

Hasan Jahid Tusher and M Abul Kalam Azad
The first meeting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's cabinet last night decided to improve law and order and to increase
subsidy on fertiliser while reducing the price of diesel in a bid to boost agricultural production in the coming Boro season.
The prime minister directed the ministers concerned to take immediate measures to bring prices of everyday essen-
tials within the reach of consumers.
The meeting that started around 8:30pm in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), also decided to provide all privileges of a minister to the former chief
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adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed for a year, including security, health care and accommodation.
"We have reviewed the overall law and order situation of the country and asked law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant." Commerce Minister Col (retd) Faruk Khan told The Daily Star emerging from the two-hour long meeting.
Chaired by Sheikh Hasina. the maiden cabinet meeting also decided to reinstate the system of fertiliser distribution of the previous Awami League regime between 1996 and 2001. During that period fertilisers used to be sold on open markets through dealers, which was later stopped by the last BNP-Jamaat alliance government.
"We want to ensure uninterrupted supply of fertiliser to farmers according to our election pledges." said the commerceminister.
The cabinet also decided to continue the drive against terrorism and other criminal activities. Referring to different violent activities in different parts of the country in recent times, the meeting directed law enforcers to deal with those with an iron hand.
The meeting directed the law enforcers to ensure the security of peoples' lives and property, and to ensure peaceful situation and law and order in educational institutions across the country’ at any cost. It directed different intelligence agencies to be more active in that regard.
The decision to reduce the price of diesel came due to frequent power outages all across the country. Sources in the cabinet said the meeting observed that there is no alternative to reducing the price of diesel if agricultural production is to be increased for having a food surplus.
Government sources hinted that a reduced price of diesel might come into effect in a day or two.
Prior to the meeting, Hasina had another meeting with only her ministers in the PMO, where she instructed her colleagues to understand properly the responsibilities of the
ministries concerned and to remain vigilant, so no untoward incident may take place.
The prime minister also directed them to keep an AL electoral manifesto with themselves all the time, so they can be reminded what their priorities are.
As she directed the commerce minister to take immediate measures to reduce prices of essentials, the minister said traders already started reducing the prices giving up their trend of unscrupulous profiteering.
Tlie prime minister along with her cabinet will visit the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara of Goplagani at 10:00am tomorrow, ano pay tribute to the father of the nation. They will return to the capital the same day.
Meanwhile. AL President s Personal Chief Security Officer Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were appointed as the security adviser and press secretary to the prime minister respectively
Joint Secretary also Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Nazrul Islam Khan was appointed as the private secretary to the prime minister, sources in tire PMO said.