People’s outcry over price hike justified

Every year the month of Ramadan in our country inflicts hardship on common people while it is supposed to reduce their misery. In almost all other Muslim-dominated countries this month bears immense significance with traders and businessmen behaving logically and sympathetically given the religious importance of the month. In many of those countries this month sees big drop in the prices of essential.

They try to ease the burden of people so that common people can pass the month mostly in prayer and other religious rituals as this month brings blessing from divinity. But the picture in our country is always the opposite. Even before the month starts, prices of essentials begin to show upward trend. Everyone knows there are nefarious syndicates that become desperate to take every bit of money out of people’s pocket. It is as if they have got an opportunity to make the best use of the month as people have to buy and eat. It is not that people eat more in this month. As they fast they just don’t cut down on their budget.

This chance is grabbed by the certain nexuses. The way prices of essentials go up it seems there is no government in the country. What we see the government doing is issuing threat and warning to the traders and businessmen but they just fall on deaf ears. Nobody listens to anybody. The governments, no matter which party is in power, have been acting the same way. When they fail to establish their command over the traders and businessmen they come up with advices like being frugal may rein in the prices of daily commodities.

They barely take any action against the syndicates. They rather preach people asking them to be frugal to save money. The same idea was reflected in the speech of our Commerce Minister on March 14 when he was speaking at a press conference organized by Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection at the conference of EPB at Karwanbazar in the capital.

He justified people’s protest and outcry over price hike but at the same time he asked people to be frugal during this month of Ramadan. He also asked people to be economical in using electricity and fuel consumption. It is confusing and full of advices and suggestions. There is nothing for the people to be pleased about it.

While putting forward logic of failure to rein in the price hikes of daily commodities he reasoned that the country was lacking manpower. It is true that it is an obstacle in the way of carrying out drives but what about the syndication? Does the government need to increase its manpower to grab the syndicates? Of course, not, because these syndicates are very much visible and they are always pampered and powered by a section of people who walk along the corridor of power.

We believe the government, if it takes sincere steps, can find them out not only to lessen people’s suffering but also in its own interest as they are maligning whatever reputation the government has earned. They are dangerous for any government. They are like chameleon. They change their colors to blend in to every government that comes to power.

Hence, we urge the government and its agencies concerned to be careful about them and take stern actions against them. If not, they will very soon gobble up our all achievements.