Give subsidy on food as short-term remedy for arresting price spirals

FE Team | Published: September 16, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Speakers at a dialogue arranged in the city Saturday by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) suggested the government to give subsidy on food as an immediate remedy for stemming the tide of spiraling price to avert a serious crisis, reports UNB.
Striking a note of caution that the caretaker government (CG) has to shoulder responsibility for a failure, they also said the government should extend its relief activities to help out the hapless multitude.
The speakers at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap observed that the responsibility for continuous price hike would certainly fall on government's shoulders and it would create an indicator of this government's success and failure.
"I think the government's food department has failed to perform its duty in controlling the food-management system," former adviser of the last CG Akbar Ali Khan said.
"The government has taken the responsibility of rice and wheatâ€¦ But the price hike of rice and wheat does effect other commodities," he added.
Noted writer Selina Hossain painted a stark scenario that a 'silent famine' is stalking the country.
Former whip of parliament Ashraf Hossain of BNP and member of Awami League advisory council Subid Ali Bhuiyan also took part in the sanglap as panelists.
BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organised the event, moderated by BBC's Kamal Ahmed.
"The government should increase its food storage and distribute it among the poor people for free or at a subsidised rate," said Akbar, also a former Cabinet Secretary.
The former finance adviser also observed that the government should also encourage the private sector to come forward to help resolve the problem.
AL leader Subid Ali observed that the price-hike situation would turn out to be an indicator of government's "failure and success". Ashraf Hossain, recently expelled as BNP joint secretary general by detained party chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia, observed that the government has already admitted its failure in controlling price hike by engaging BDR to control the market.
Asked if the Election Commission (EC) could avoid either of the BNP faction's demand for inviting them for the ongoing dialogue, Akbar Ali said the EC discussed with Islamic Oikya Jote (IOJ) who had only one representation in the last parliament. "So they should discuss all such parties."
Subid Ali and Selina Hossain observed that the EC should determine whom they would call for dialogue as per their set criteria. About the IOJ suggestion to the EC for making the registration condition of having 33 per cent female representation on party committees optional, all the three discussants, excepting Selina Hossain, agreed on this point.
"The provision would make problem in party activities," Akbar Ali said, suggesting that 50 per cent quota should be kept reserved for the females in Jatiya Sangsad.
Subid Ali and Ashraf Hossain said imposing the restriction would not be rational and the decision should be left to party constitution. Asked about Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmmed's remark that there is no dual governance (of the government and army) in the country, all the discussants suggested mending the remark.
"His (CA) remarks have another consequence, that is, he is admitting the responsibility for what is happening in the countryâ€¦ Whatever the army is doing, doing with the full approval of him (the CA cum government)," Akbar Ali noted.
About the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh Biman, the discussants felt the need for a quick solution by opening the sky for foreign airlines and chartering airbuses from abroad.
"As a short-term solution the sky should be opened for 6 to 12 monthsâ€¦ And in the long term, the organisation should be privatised by encouraging the local investors to take it over," said Akbar Ali.