The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Ferdous Ahmed Quraishi, Convener of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday a section of politicians were trying to free the detained corrupt people by taking advantage of the issues like food crisis and price-hike of essentials in the country.

Addressing at a press conference at PDP head office in the city Quraishi also blamed the high price-hike of essentials on the conspiracy of a section of politicians and media.

The media exaggerated the issue of rice crisis that resulted in the price-hike of this commodity in the country, he said.

Quraishi said media blew out the rice crisis out of proportion creating panic among the people.

He pointed out that his organisation has forewarned about the looming food crisis worldover including Bangladesh long ago and suggested the government to build buffer stock of rice by importing it from abroad. But getting assurance of adequate rice supply from India, the caretaker government did not feel the necessity of stocking rice by importing it from other countries, when its price in the international market was cheap and available at less than 300 dollars per ton, he added.

"Dillydally tactic of India on rice supply is not friendly behaviour with its neighbouring Bangladeshi people," according to him.

He urged the government to introduce rationing system for the people of lower income bracket.

He alleged that some Newspapers in Saudi Arabia managed by Indians and Pakistanis were tarnishing the image of Bangladesh by publishing negative reports about Bangladeshi expatriates there.

PDP Convener said the government should take proper steps to uphold the image of Bangladeshi in the Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia.

Joint Conveners of PDP Nur Mohammad, Maj Gen (Retd) Rafiqul Islam, members Lt Col (Retd) HMA Gaffer, Bir Uttam, Maj (Retd) Riazul Islam, Bir Bikram, Moulana Shakhawat Hossain, among others, were present at the press conference.