Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that there is a danger of intensifying the crisis as a result of the renewed conflict in the Middle East. She said that even in this situation, the government is making all-out efforts to control inflation and mitigate its impact on the people.

On Wednesday (May 8)in response to the written question of Abul Kalam MP from Nator-1 Constituency in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan the Prime Minister said this.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the government is always trying to alleviate the sufferings of the people. To this end, the government has continued all kinds of activities to keep the price of daily necessities normal. We have already managed to contain the abnormal rise in consumer prices to a large extent. However, due to the increase in the prices of some products of the world market such as fuel oil, edible oil, wheat, fertilizers, various food products, consumer goods and industrial raw materials, the pressure of import inflation is being felt in our country. In addition, there is a danger that this crisis will intensify as a result of the renewed conflict in the Middle East. However, even in this situation, we are making every effort to control inflation and mitigate its impact on the people.

Indicating some steps to keep the price within the purchasing power of the common people, the Prime Minister said that in the main budget of the financial year 2023-24, there is a provision of 4 lakh metric tons of rice in the OMS sector. In order to keep the market price of rice and flour at a bearable level, a total of 869 metric tons of rice and 1101 metric tons of flour are being sold daily in a total of 871 centers across the country under the OMS program. About 1.67 lakh metric tons of rice and 2.13 lakh metric tons of flour have been sold in the OMS (general) sector till April 11 of the current financial year.

Besides, the program of distribution of 50 thousand metric tons of rice per month to 1 crore families at subsidized price under family card through TCB has been taken. Apart from rice, 2 kg pulses and 2 kg soybean oil are also being distributed under this family card.

The head of government said that food assistance is being provided regularly to 50 lakh low-income families through the food friendly program for 5 months (September, October and November and March and April) by distributing 30 kg of rice to each family at the rate of Tk. 15 per kg. Under this program, OMS rice is being sold at the rate of Tk. 30 per kg in city corporations, municipalities and district towns. Internal food collection and distribution processes have been continued to provide assistance to low-income communities. A target of 22.19 lakh metric tons has been set for procurement of food grains from domestic sources in the financial year 2023-24.

Besides, Tk. 17 thousand crore have been earmarked as agricultural subsidies and incentives in the financial year 2023-24. Subsidies and incentives given in the agricultural sector have indirectly helped in keeping down the prices of agricultural produce by reducing the cost of production of farmers. Special agricultural loans are being given at 4 percent interest under existing interest subsidies for the production of 24 crops including pulses, oil, spices, and maize.

Moreover, social security programs have been expanded to protect the poor. Currently, 29 percent of the country's families are covered under social security programs. In the financial year 2023-24, a total of Tk. 1 lakh 26 thousand 272 crore has been allocated to the social security sector, which is 16.58 percent of the total budget. Various tax breaks are being provided to reduce inflation. Besides, appropriate measures are being taken by the Department of Consumer Rights Protection and the District Administration through Mobile Courts to keep the market prices of daily necessities stable and strictly suppress illegal hoarding. To control inflation, the policy (repo) interest rate has been increased in phases from 4.75 percent in May 2022 to 8 percent last time. Besides, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF or Reverse Repo Rate) has been increased to 6.50 percent and the loan interest rate ceiling has been lifted. There has been a visible upward shift in market-based average interest rates due to significant increases in policy rates.

Sheikh Hasina said that the recent decline in the exchange rate has adversely affected domestic inflation. In this case, the crawling peg based currency exchange policy will soon be adopted with the aim of bringing stability to the foreign currency exchange rate. It is expected that this system based on defined corridors will prevent abnormal fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. As a result, it will also help in controlling inflation. 

In the first phase of upazila parishad elections, voting was held in 139 upazilas on Wednesday (May 8). Among them, Awami League leaders have been elected as Chairman in 49 upazilas. Nine of them are relatives of MPs.

Although there are organizational instructions of the ruling Awami League, the relatives of the local parliamentarians have been elected to the Chairman posts in 13 upazilas, ignoring those instructions. Among them, 9 people were elected and two were defeated in 11 upazilas. One already won unopposed.

Atahar Ishrak Shabab Chowdhury, son of Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, Member of Parliament of Noakhali-4 (Sadar and Subarnachar) Constituency, has been elected Chairman in Noakhali's Subarnachar. He was a candidate against District Awami League president and three-time chairman of Subarnachar Upazila Parishad, AHM Khairul Anam Chowdhury.

Ashiq Ali, the elder son of the local MP Mohammad Ali, has won the seat of Noakhali.

SM Noore Alam Shaheen has become the Chairman in Nazirpur of Pirojpur. He is the brother of MP SM Rezaul Karim of Pirojpur-1 Constituency.

Madaripur Sadar Upazila MP Shajahan Khan's elder son Asibur Rahman Khan has been elected to the post of Chairman.

The current Chairman Ataur Rahman Ata has become the chairman in Kushtia Sadar Upazila. He is the cousin of Awami League Joint General Secretary and Kushtia Sadar Constituency MP Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif.

Son and younger brother of Sahadara Mannan, Member of Parliament of the ruling party of Bogra-1 Constituency and executive member of the Central Mahila League, have been elected as Chairman in two upazilas of Bogra. Son Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain was elected in Sariakandi and younger brother Minhaduzzaman in Sonatala.

Safiqul Islam, uncle of Parliamentarian Mazharul Islam of Thakurgaon-2 Constituency has been elected Chairman in Baliadangi Upazila.

Vishwa Pradeep Karbari has been elected Chairman of Ramgarh in Khagrachari. He is the son-in-law of Awami League MP Kujendra Lal Tripura.

Harunur Rashid was defeated in Tangail's Dhanbari. He is the cousin of local MP Abdur Razzak. Shoeb Ahmed, nephew of local MP Shahab Uddin, was defeated in Baralekha of Moulvibazar.

Ambassador of Turkey Ramis Sen said that he wants to take the bilateral trade with Bangladesh to two billion dollars.

The Turkish Ambassador said this during a courtesy meeting with Chattogram City Mayor Bir Muktijoddha Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.

Mayor Rezaul said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has made huge investments to exploit the commercial potential of Chattogram. Chattogram City Corporation is implementing a project worth two and a half thousand crores to improve the communication infrastructure of the city.

Apart from this, several projects have been taken to alleviate the water logging of the city. As a result, Chattogram has become an ideal place for foreign investment. Turkey can capitalize on this golden opportunity with massive investment.

In response, Ambassador Ramis Sen said, 50 years of bilateral relations between Turkey and Bangladesh are going to be completed. In the last half century, Turkey was always by Bangladesh's side. However, the depth of Bangladesh's relationship with Turkey is not properly reflected in bilateral trade. Therefore, Turkey aims to take the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Turkey to two billion dollars in a short period of time. Bangladesh is ahead of Turkey in terms of import and export.

Currently, Bangladesh's trade with Turkey is mainly centered on the textile sector. Turkey exports textile sector machinery and chemicals to Bangladesh. On the other hand, Turkey imports garments from Bangladesh. Turkey wants to diversify the bilateral trade without limiting it to the textile sector.

Highlighting the success of Turkey's health sector, the Ambassador said that Turkey is currently one of the top five medical tourism destinations in the world. Tourists from various European countries visit Turkey for medical treatment during summer because Turkey's health sector is capable of treating various complex and rare diseases. The number of tourists in Turkey decreased slightly during the Covid period, but last year the number increased again and crossed 50 million.

Stating that Turkey is also advancing in the military sector, the Ambassador said that in February, Turkey flew its own 5th generation stealth fighter Kan, which is an indication of Turkey's deep military power. In addition, Turkey has impressed the world by developing drones and various military technologies. Turkey is sharing its acquired knowledge with Bangladesh and will continue to do so in the future.

Turkish Rear Admiral Mustafa Kaya, Colonel Erdal Shahin, Chief Executive Officer of CCC Sheikh Muhammad Tauhidul Islam, Honorary Consul General of Turkey in Bangladesh Salahuddin Kashem Khan were also present in the meeting. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on the UK to help the forcibly displaced Rohingya repatriate to their homeland Myanmar.

She said this during a courtesy call on UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Affairs Anne-Marie Trevelyan at Ganobhaban on Wednesday (May 8) afternoon.

The Prime Minister said that the number of Rohingyas is increasing day by day which has become a burden for Bangladesh.

When the United Kingdom's Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Trevelyan raised the issues of education, training and employment for the Rohingyas in the Cox's Bazar camp, Sheikh Hasina said, the camp is overcrowded. So it is impossible to ensure these facilities in the camp. However, she said, the government has built a house with all facilities for the Rohingyas in Bhasanchar Island.

Facilities in Bhasanchar include housing, healthcare services and employment opportunities, she said.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh urged Britain to invest more in Bangladesh. She said that she offered Britain a place in the special economic zone established in Bangladesh for direct investment for mutual benefit.

Bangladesh may sign a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) with Britain to bring back illegal Bangladeshi migrants to Britain.

Sheikh Hasina said, we want no one to go abroad illegally. For this purpose we have declared zero tolerance.