Anti-Hoarding Act to be made time-befitting, PM tells JS

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically said Wednesday that stern actions would be taken against those responsible for increasing sufferings of the people by creating artificial crisis of food grains, report agencies. "There is no crisis of food grains in Bangladesh at present. We have enough stocks of essential commodities to feed the people," she told the Jatiya Sangsad while replying to a supplementary from treasury bench member Apu Ukil during the Prime Minister's Question-Answer session. Hasina said her government will keep vigil so that none can create artificial crisis of food through illegal hoarding. In this context, she said her government has also taken step to make the Anti- Hoarding Act time-befitting and effective to prevent illegal hoarding of food grains. She said an agreement has been signed to procure 0.35 million tonnes of rice from Vietnam while another agreement has been finalised to buy about 0.2 million tonnes of rice from Thailand. Besides, agreements have been signed to procure a total of 2.007 million tonnes food grains through international tenders. Hasina also informed the parliament that gas production was expected to increase by more than 295 million cubic feet within this December. In a written reply to Rehana Akhter Ranu she said work on exploration of gas was progressing in five wells and assessment in six other wells. The work will be completed by the end of the year. She said the government has been able to raise the gas production to 284 million cubit feet per day during the last two years In another written reply to Rawshan Jahan Shathi the prime minister said a separate pay commission for teachers is under active consideration of the government in the light of National Education Policy 2010. The pay commission is likely to recommend higher salary and other benefits for the teachers so that they can maintain their dignity in the society.