Hoarders, price manipulators to face jail : PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned the hoarders of essential commodities and market manipulators of stern action.

“If anyone hoards any goods out of ill motives, we’ll have to take instant action against them through mobile courts. If needed, they will be sent to jail,” she said at a meeting of Awami League Central Working Committee at the Gono Bhaban in the evening.

Mentioning that the sudden price hike of essentials immediately after the January 7 polls was very much abnormal, Hasina said, “Finding out the people behind this is inevitable .”

She added, “It is not only necessary to find them but also take instant action against them. We’ll do it in future.”

The premier urged the people to remain vigilant so none can increase prices of food items by hoarding and black marketeering.

Criticising those who raise questions about the January 7 polls, the AL president said whether any political party contests polls depends on that particular party.

She said people spontaneously cast ballots in the national polls despite a campaign asking the voters not to vote.

Mentioning that attempts are being made to
make RMG workers wage a movement and to instigate a movement with the issue of price hike of essentials, the PM said the BNP wants to hatch a conspiracy again after failing to thwart the polls.

“Insha’Allah, there will be no abnormal situation in Bangladesh anymore,” she said, adding that they have established democracy and the democracy process would continue.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium members Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafarullah, Mosharraf Hossain, and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, and Central Working Committee member Abul Hasnat Abdullah, among others, were present.