The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Finance and Planning Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said the Government is taking different measures to tackle the escalation of price.

He said that it was unrealistic to expect reduction prices of food items including rice as half of the post-harvest crops of this year have arrived in the market that did a little impact on arresting the price hike.

"The government is sincere in tackling the price hike. Both budgetary and non-budgetary measures will check further rise in the prices of essentials," he said as chief guest at a seminar on " Price- hike and Poverty Alleviation- Budget 2008-09" organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in cooperation with Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) and Oxfam International at DCCI auditorium.

He said the government has allocated more fund in the budget for 'social protection' to reduce the sufferings of the marginalised people.

Hossain Khaled, President of DCCI gave the welcome speech and Dr Qazi Koliquzzaman Ahmad, President of BEA presided over the seminar.

Dr M Kabir Hassan, Professor, University of Orleans, USA, Dr Uttam Dev, representative from concerned ministry, businessmen, academics and economists took part in the discussion. Ziaul Hoque Mukta of Oxfam International offered vote of thanks.

The Finance Adviser said that this year farmers have increased their capacity of holding their products. As a result only 20 per cent of Boro harvest has come to the markets that cause a little impact on price situation.

He said that the Government has taken measures to implement employment guarantee scheme for ultra poor in the rural areas during the lean season.

He also said the much-talked-about consumer protection act would see the light of the day within a couple of months.

Dr Aziz sought necessary cooperation from all sections of the society to implement the Government's plans to mitigate the sufferings of the people caused by price hike.

"Concerted public and private efforts are important for full implementation of the programmes," he said and called upon the businessmen to help the Government for implementing the programmes.

He said the government had a plan to increase the oil prices in phases instead of at one-go. But it was not possible due to natural calamities and boro farming.

Replying to a query on fertiliser he said that the subsidy on fertiliser would be Tk 50 per kg even after raising the prices, while the general subsidy on diesel will be of around Tk 10,000 crore annually after raising the diesel price by 40 per cent.

Dr Kholiquzzaman called upon all sections of the society to act properly from their respective fields and cooperate with the Government in its ongoing fight against price hike.