PM directs DCs to monitor demand, supply of essentials

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FE Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday issued a directive to Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to monitor the demand and supply of essentials in an attempt to stem the price spike before Ramadan.
The country's food stock is adequate, she said, issuing warning against unscrupulous traders who often hike prices.
The directives came as the Prime Minister opened a three-day conference of DCs at Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the city.
She wondered why prices of daily necessities were going up when stocks remained abundant.
"Some dishonest traders are earning extra profits by increasing prices," she told the DCs conference.
The Prime Minister asked the DCs to take steps in order to safeguard the interests of farmers and not allow anybody to hoodwink farmers.
Hasina said the government considers direct purchase of paddy besides rice from the farmers. "To preserve paddy, more silos will be set up," she added.
Sheikh Hasina advised them to directly communicate with her over telephone if they face any difficulty to implement the development programmes.
"We want to work for the betterment of the people. We didn't come here to take protocol only," she told top district bureaucrats.
The Prime Minister expressed her satisfaction over the implementation of 91 per cent of Annual Development Programme (ADP), saying her government would be able to implement 100 per cent ADP in future.
The Prime Minister ordered the DCs to keep a close watch so that no-one can grab khas lands and fill up water bodies like rivers, haors, baros and canals across the country.
The Prime Minister noted that her government plans to prepare district-wise budget to ensure balanced development in the country.