Keeping fuel prices stable a major success of govt: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (28 March) said that keeping fuel prices unchanged in the country, despite their rise in international markets following the Middle East war, is a major success of the government.

"This success has been possible because of advance preparation," he told reporters after a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party held at the ruling party's meeting room in the Parliament Secretariat in the afternoon.

Noting that the government keeps fuel prices stable by providing additional subsidies, he said, "Our plan is to provide comfort to the people, especially during the Boro season, so that there is no crisis in agricultural production and the cost of agricultural inputs, including fuel, does not rise."

Referring to the global fuel situation, he said prices have increased in many neighbouring countries, and some countries have even shut down educational institutions due to energy shortages.

"But in Bangladesh, everything has been managed smoothly under the directives of the prime minister. We hope to be able to maintain this situation," he added.

On the issue of energy smuggling, the home minister said a few incidents of fuel smuggling have come to the government's notice, and such activities will be curbed firmly.

Turning to the ordinances promulgated during the interim government, Salahuddin said the parliamentary special committee will meet again on Sunday night to discuss the 133 ordinances issued during that period.

"The meeting will be held at 8:30 pm tomorrow, where a final decision regarding the ordinances will be taken. Based on that, the committee will prepare its report," he said.

The report is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on 2 April, after which it will proceed to the legislative process in accordance with the rules, he added.