Increase monitoring against price hikes, extortion: PM to secretaries

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed all secretaries to strictly monitor the commodity market and stop extortion to effectively manage and control prices.

During a meeting with the secretaries on Monday (5 February), the premier called for decisive actions to halt the activities of corruption, snatching, and youth gangs. She also instructed the secretaries to take effective measures to ensure power and energy security, food security, and enhance export earnings.

Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters on the prime minister's instructions after the meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office. 

Mahbub said the meeting was attended by all secretaries and heads of various departments holding equivalent designation as secretaries. Eleven secretaries presented written statements, and five other secretaries addressed the three and a half hours long meeting.

The last time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held such a meeting with secretaries was on 27 November 2022.

The Cabinet secretary said the secretaries sought to understand the prime minister's expectations and the overarching direction of their work. The premier, in turn, instructed the secretaries to fulfil their duties with dedication and confidence.

The PM also thanked the secretaries for holding the recently concluded 12th national election successfully, he said.

Mahbub Hossain said the PM emphasised the need to prevent extortion at any cost as it is believed to contribute to the rise in prices of essential goods.

Furthermore, the premier stressed that inflation should be kept lower than GDP growth. Addressing the issue of tax evasion, she noted that there is a substantial number of individuals in the country with the capacity to pay taxes but are not fulfilling their obligations. She instructed the secretaries to expand tax coverage rather than increase the tax rate to enhance revenue collection.

The cabinet secretary said the prime minister underscored the need to take initiatives to attract investment, particularly foreign direct investment (FDI), while ensuring that investors are not subjected to unnecessary harassment.

The prime minister further called for facilitating the export of agricultural, jute, and leather products, similar to the ready-made garments industry, to boost export earnings, he said. 

Recognising the potential for higher value addition in these three sectors, the premier directed initiatives to expand exports into new markets, particularly in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, East Asia, and African regions. Specific instructions were given to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, clothing, food, agricultural products, and jute products in these markets, said the cabinet secretary.

The premier called for zero tolerance against corruption. She said the responsibility of combating corruption is not solely on the Anti-Corruption Commission but extends to the secretaries as well and measures should be implemented to prevent corruption at the service points of every ministry, he said.

Referring to the prime minister's warning about taking up new projects, the cabinet secretary said projects should be taken up for the welfare of the public, not for show. 

The prime minister directed the secretaries on the necessity of a swift completion of ongoing projects, avoiding unnecessary delays. Additionally, she stressed a prudent approach to government expenditure, Mahbub Hossain said.

The cabinet secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recommended placing special focus on enhancing food production by ensuring adequate irrigation and exploring the use of solar power in irrigation systems. Simultaneously, she has called for necessary measures to ensure energy security, including directives for gas exploration in the deep sea.

Additionally, Sheikh Hasina stressed expanding technical education services. She directed the authorities concerned to take initiatives for developing tourism services.

Mahbub Hossain said the meeting included a discussion on the new curriculum. He relayed the prime minister's view that, given the unconventional nature of the new curriculum, it is essential to embrace emerging realities. The premier directed swift corrective actions through discussions if any mistakes were identified. 

Addressing a journalist's query about the ongoing situation at the border with Myanmar, the cabinet secretary said the matter was indeed part of the meeting's discussion. However, the details discussed would not be disclosed to the media for now