Bangladesh: CPB, SPB protest at price rise

Dhaka, July 6, 2014 (New Age): Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh and Socialist Party of Bangladesh at a rally in the city on Saturday urged the government to take measures to control price hike of essentials during Ramadan. CPB and SPB organised the rally in front of the National Press Club to press for controlling price hike, controlling traffic and paying wages and festival allowances of workers before 20th Ramadan. The SPB general secretary Khalequzzaman, who chaired the rally, said commerce minister Tofail Ahmed had said before Ramadan that prices of essentials would not increase but failed to keep his commitment as prices shot up on the eve of Ramadan. Hoarders are responsible for the price rise but the government has failed to control them, the left leader said. Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, general secretary of CPB, said workers are generally deprived as they get low wages. They will not be able to enjoy Eid if their wages and festival allowances are not given before 20th Ramadan, Zafar said. He called on the government to activate the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh to check market manipulation by hoarders. CPB central leaders Ahsan Habib Labu, Sajedul Haque Rubel and the SPB central leader Bazlur Rashid Firoz spoke at the rally. The rally was followed by a procession that paraded through different city roads.