The Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the government has been taking the required measures to ease the public sufferings despite the opposition parties’ attempts to ‘net fish in troubled water’ capitalising on the global crisis arising from the Russia-Ukraine war.
“When the country is in a transition period (crisis), I’ve not seen such worry among those who are in our opposition, rather I’ve seen that they are trying how to create political instability, taking its advantage. Is it fair to do that?” she said.
The premier made this remark while replying to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque from the Kishoreganj-3 constituency where he questioned whether the government would take any initiative for unity among all political parties to face the existing economic crisis, according to BSS.
Sheikh Hasina in reply questioned the opposition as to why not (she sees) such feelings among them and said that they should have patriotism and such feeling towards the country.
She added, “When there is a crisis throughout the world, we should avoid the tendency to unstable the political situation and net fish in the troubled water.”
The prime minister said that her government has been developing entire Bangladesh and the mass people, instead of considering which area voted for Awami League or not.
Her government didn’t sit idle in handling the disasters, she said and added that many people continue criticising the government and making statements, but they didn’t stand beside the people even giving a fist of rice.
She said unity should not be uttered only in the mouth, rather everyone will have to come forward spontaneously to this end. “We always believe in unity. We’ll work together with whoever comes forward,” she added.
In reply to another supplementary question from BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana, the Prime Minister suggested the members of the parliament stand beside the people instead of finding faults amid the global crisis.
Mentioning that the price of every commodity soared following the war and sanctions, she said the people of the entire world are now victims of it. “The Members of the Parliament should think what they can do for the people of Bangladesh as a lawmaker, not finding faults in Bangladesh,” she said.
Earlier, Rumeen referred to the CPD and a newspaper questioning what step is planned by the government to control inflation as the food prices are the highest in Bangladesh among South Asia and Bangladesh is among the 42 countries that may face famine.
The premier said everyone should consider the price-hike of essentials in Bangladesh, compared to that in the world markets.
She said, “I am not denying that the prices have not increased in Bangladesh. Since the prices have soared up, we are providing subsidies and selling the goods at low prices to those who can’t afford them.”
Responding to another supplementary question from Gonoforum lawmaker Sultan Muhammed Mansur Ahmed from Maulvibazar-2 constituency, the premier said Bangladesh still remains in a better position than even many developed countries amid the economic recession.
She said there are also some unscrupulous businessmen who consider only their profits not the sufferings of the people and they sometimes hoard goods and create artificial price-hikes.
Sheikh Hasina said that she has already taken steps against those who try to hoard goods and create artificial price-hikes and the step will continue.
