Amid the soaring prices of essential commodities, the Cabinet has asked the authorities concerned to make within three days a realistic assessment of the market situation and challenges ahead due to Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic. The finance and commerce ministries and Bangladesh Bank (BB) were given the directive at the Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday.
The finance ministry, commerce ministry and Bangladesh Bank will give a "comprehensive picture within two or three days," Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said at a media briefing after the meeting. The cabinet secretary said the commerce minister, finance minister and secretaries of both ministries have been asked to take comprehensive steps and place a report before all.
"Particularly, they will discuss on how to handle the matter, where to put restrictions and where to relax restrictions. They will give their report," he added.
He also mentioned that the matter of dollar price will also be in that comprehensive report.
The cabinet secretary said that the meeting also discussed the Covid-19 related matters and was apprised that World Bank has allocated around USD1billion loan to Bangladesh to carry out next programs. The country has shown tremendous success in tackling Covid-19 pandemic situation.
Khandker Anwarul Islam said the cabinet approved Haat and Bazar (establish and management) Act, 2022 in principle to replace an Ordinance of 1959 regarding the matter to make it time befitting.