By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka : A meeting was held at the Prime Ministers’ Office Sunday afternoon to review government subsidies to agriculture, power and energy sectors.
Chairperson of the committee Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
After the meeting Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen that the meeting held a threadbare discussion on the international price situation of several essential items like oil, petroleum, food grains and fertilizer.
The meeting was informed that price of such items in international markets is much higher than Bangladesh and the trend of price hike is continuing there. As a result, the government is now compelled to provide additional subsidies to the target groups to overcome the deficiencies.
The meeting observed that Bangladesh government is concerned about the price hike of essentials like oil petroleum products, agriculture output and food items in the global markets.
While discussing the domestic market situation, the meeting found that the existing price level in Bangladesh is much lower than the international markets including the neighbouring countries.
In this context, the meeting was informed that the price of rice in India is Taka 40 per kg when it is Taka 32 in Bangladesh.
However, the meeting said that the present government has been implementing necessary programmes to ensure national economic growth of the country.
Finance Minister AMA Muhit, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Food Minister Dr. Abdur Razzak, Finance Adviser Dr. Moshiur Rahman, Energy Adviser Dr. Towfiq-e- Elahi Chowdhury, Principal Secretary M Abdul Karim, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman, Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.