CA pledges steps to curb price hikes

Dhaka, Jan 5 (BDPREM) – Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed Saturday assured local representatives from across Bangladesh that steps were being taken to rein in spiralling prices. "There is no alternative but to boost the production of agricultural products to curb the price of essentials," the chief adviser said speaking as chief guest at a local government conference at the National Parade Square. Your Ad Here He listed a number of steps being taken by the caretaker government to check the prices of essentials. A delegation would go to India to import 5 lakh tonnes of rice, the chief adviser said. The government was also attempting to import rice from Thailand and Vietnam to arrest the price of rice. The government had decided to import 10 lakh tonnes of rice from abroad, Fakhruddin said. It had already secured a deal to import 4 lakh tonnes and the remaining 6 lakh tonnes would be imported shortly, he added. Fakhruddin also mentioned steps to ensure the supply of fertiliser. "Fertiliser will be distributed in some 14,000 places of the country this year," he said, adding that the government was distributing fertiliser at only Tk 5.30 though it had been purchased at Tk 31 per kg. The chief adviser began his speech by pledging a strong basis for the establishment of good governance in the country. "The people's participation should be ensured. We should also take strong action to strengthen the local government system." "We must come out of the culture of empowerment— to change the luck of a few people." Thousands of elected representatives of local government institutions across the country took part in the conference chaired by LGRD and cooperatives adviser Md Anwarul Iqbal. Fakhruddin asked the grassroots representatives to play an active role and come forward for the establishment of good governance. "There is no alternative but to establish desired good governance in local level," he said. He went on to mention various other initiatives of the interim government including prevention of corruption and efforts for holding a fair election. "We must come out of the culture of corruption. We must all play a strong role in preventing graft in local areas," he told the local representatives. The chief adviser in his speech mentioned the success of the Election Commission in enrolling voters. The commission has already enlisted as many as 2 crore voters for the elections slated for 2008, he said. Fakhruddin also called on the assembled local body representatives to come forward to curb poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and corruption.