Awami League leaders have started campaigning ahead of the 12th National Assembly elections. Whenever the leaders go to the people to garner public support, the issue of price hike is coming forward. People's question that 'Why are the prices of goods so high?' The leaders are embarrassed by this complaint of the people. As a result, the candidates are facing challenges to retain the positive thoughts of Awami League among the voters. This information was known while talking to the central and root level leaders of the party.
A leader of the Awami League candidate for the nomination of the boat conducted mass communication in a local area in Bancharampur of Brahmanbaria-6 Constituency. While campaigning, he faced questions from the locals about the price hike of goods.
The leader, who did not want to reveal his name, said that there is no doubt that people have confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, due to the high prices of daily necessities, the common people have expressed their distress to us. If the prices are not controlled before the elections, the current anger among the people can also build on the polling ground.
Awami League presidium member and Gopalganj-1 Constituency Member of Parliament Muhammad Farooq Khan told to the 'Khaborer Kagoj' that there is no doubt that the prices of commodities have increased. The party has no hand here. Since the time of Corona, the prices of commodities have increased in many countries of the world. Apart from this, the Ukraine-Russia war has also affected the market. But the government is trying so that the people of the country do not suffer. Intelligence surveillance has also been increased.
According to related data, before the 10th parliamentary elections in 2014, the inflation rate in the country was 7.85 per cent. Before the 11th parliamentary elections in 2018, the inflation rate was 5.78 per cent. Just before the 12th parliamentary elections, the inflation rate stood at 10 per cent.
Experts say that the current rate of inflation is the highest compared to the last few years. In particular, 'food price inflation' has risen alarmingly to 12 per cent. As a result, low and low income people have suffered more.
The concerned ministers and party leaders are also admitting the increase in commodity prices in public. The high-level leaders of the party are also worried about the condition of the market before the elections. They also acknowledged the increase in the price of goods in several meetings.
In a press conference on November 6, General Secretary of Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said, "Common people are suffering because the prices of goods are unbearable. The Prime Minister is working day and night to free people from this suffering.
According to the related sources, due to the increase of price hike, there is a kind of pent-up anger in the minds of the common people. Root level leaders feel that it has become an important issue ahead of the parliamentary elections. According to them, the progress made by the Awami League government for the last 15 years may fade away if the prices of goods are not controlled.
*This report, originally published in the Khaborer Kagoj print and online edition, has been rewritten in English by Md Sahadad Hossain
