PM Hasina for checking extortion, controlling prices

FE Team | Published: February 05, 2024 23:49:59

Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the authorities concerned to maintain law and order and keep the prices of commodities under check, reports UNB.
"If there is any extortion, all concerned have to take very strong action," she told a meeting attended by the secretaries of the government at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain briefed the newsmen at the Secretariat after the meeting.
"She has asked the top officials to keep an eye on law-and-order situation and control prices of essentials. In the case of surveillance, she has talked about a specific area where on many occasions the issue of extortion was found to have a bearing on the price of goods. In this case, she has asked all concerned to take strong measures so that it does not happen anywhere," said Mahbub.
"She asked us to look into one specific issue of the law and order aspect. With regard to the incidents of mugging, activities of youth gangs or similar crimes, she asked to form committees at the local level and pay due attention," added the cabinet secretary.
The prime minister also asked the authorities concerned to take prompt steps to fix errors and flaws, if there is any, in the new syllabus introduced in the country's schools through proper review.
"If there is any mistake, if there is any factual error or any flaw, then steps should be taken quickly. There should be no delay," she was quoted as saying by the cabinet secretary.
The prime minister asked the secretaries to ensure timely completion of the ongoing development projects and make sure the projects benefit the people.
"She has asked us to pay due attention so that the people are benefited from the projects. She said her main goal is to improve the fate of the people…. So, the projects should be picked considering these things," said Mahbub.
Turning to inflation, investment, revenue collection, the top bureaucrat said the prime minister directed the authorities to make best efforts to bring down the rate of inflation below the GDP growth rate.
Noting that a large number of people who are supposed to pay income tax are still out of the tax net, she has given strict instructions to bring them under the income tax net.
The PM asked the officials to ensure that the foreign investors don't face unnecessary harassment and remove complications, if there are any.
"She won't take it lightly if the investment is hindered for any reason," said the cabinet secretary.
The prime minister also asked the top bureaucrats to explore new markets for Bangladeshi goods.
The PM asked the secretaries to exercise austerity in spending government's funds and explore new export markets for Bangladeshi goods including pharmaceuticals items, cloths, foods, agricultural goods and jute products.
" We should search markets in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, East Asia and Africa, especially for pharmaceuticals, apparels, food, agricultural goods, jute products," Hasina was quoted as saying.
The prime minister asked all to exercise austerity in the use of electricity and energy and ensure that irrigation is not hampered during this season.
She asked to take initiatives to fill up the vacant posts and ensure timely promotion in the government services.