Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, also adviser for Youth and Sports and a key coordinator to the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, said on Tuesday that the government will adopt 'hard-line' to control soaring commodity prices and break trade syndicates.
"It is a must to take steps to break the syndicates. But, it is hard as the syndicates have links with the fallen fascist government. We have to take the hard-line. Otherwise, it will not be possible to break the syndicates. We are taking steps, if necessary drives would be launched against them under the Special Powers Act after identifying the main culprits," he said while exchanging views organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat's media centre.
Asif Mahmud said that the government is encouraging entrepreneurs to bypass middlemen by purchasing products directly from farmers and selling them in Dhaka.
He highlighted the need to reactivate the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), noting that its operations have been hindered by political influence, particularly by dealers with Awami League and Chhatra League backgrounds.
Asif Mahmud criticised media's coverage of the student movement, and said television channels failed to objectively report the movement, but newspapers played a more supportive role. He emphasised the need for media reforms.
Replying to questions, Asif Mahmud attributed the rising prices of essentials to disruption of supplies by floods.
He acknowledged the existence of market syndicates and assured that efforts were on to dismantle the syndicates.
He said that some corporate houses are deliberately raising prices and that they will face action under the Special Powers Act.
Replying questions, he said that syndicates promoted by members of e Awami League and Chhatra League, are still active.
He said that businessmen continue to maintain these syndicates in collaboration of politicians to protect their interests.
"While extortionists are being arrested, the problem persists as others quickly take their place," he said.
"The government is working to address the root cause of these issues and it needs the support of political parties to succeed," he said Asif Mahmud acknowledged that rectifying 16 years of damage cannot be done in six months and that it would take around 10 years to fix.
Regarding the Ministry of Labour and Employment, he noted that little has been done to create employment opportunities.
He mentioned that the government is considering to establish a dedicated employment department to address this gap in the model of other countries.
Asked about cricketer Shakib Al Hasan's legal situation, Asif Mahmud said that there is no legal barrier to preventing Shakib from travelling to or from Bangladesh.
He clarified that legal matters are under the jurisdiction of the courts and the Ministry of Law.
He emphasised the government's responsibility to ensure the security of players and reiterated that, as far as his ministry is aware, there are no legal obstacles on Shakib's movements. However, if the court issues an order, it would be a matter for the judiciary to address.