Oil-price hiking won't affect commodity price: Commerce Minister

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the hiking of fuel oil prices would not affect the essential commodity prices.

“I think the price of goods will not be affected due to the rise of oil prices. Strict monitoring will be taken so that dishonest businessmen can’t take the benefits of the situation,” he said.

The commerce minister came up with the remark while reply to a query of a journalist on Tuesday, (22 September) in a programme with tea workers in Lakkatura tea garden field in Sylhet.

Raincoats were also distributed among 1980 tea laborers from multiple gardens.

The minister said to the tea laborers, “The government have taken steps to increase earnings from the tea garden. We have conducted meeting earlier as per the directions of the prime minister on this issue. We’re also discussing to plant other species of plants like spice or wood-oriented plants beside tea without hampering its cultivation.”

The minister also said that solar power systems will also be installed in the gardens where possible for added income. An increased income from the garden will possibly be a handsome income for the workers.

The minister also assured the tea garden workers over health services including availability of ambulances.

Schools will be established in the gardens in potential areas. Roads are also to be reconstructed in the garden areas.

“We are also taking organized steps for the better life of the tea workers. You will get the benefits of the measures in the health, education and income sectors,” he said.

Abdul Qaium Chowdhury, the administrator of the Shylet city corporation and Abdullah Al Mamun, the District Administrator of Sylhet, among others, were present in the programme.

Meanwhile, the minister also criticized the opposition parties recent movement.

He said, “As the opposition party, they are elected by the people. They should behave responsibly by escaping rhetoric talk.”