Come down to reality

This is far from the reality on the ground.

Going by what she has said, either she is not kept well-informed about the changing market behaviour which is actually a reflection on the quality of advice she gets on burning issues, or the PM herself is caught in an overall denial mode to be somewhat rejectionist of any negative tiding. Furthermore, it might have given an impression that because the highly placed people do not visit the market place as a matter of necessity they are out of touch with the ruling prices and, in the process, may have distanced themselves from the people even as elected leaders.

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The official figures like those of the government's agricultural extension and marketing wings, the TCB and, last but not least, its task-force are clearly indicative of rising prices. The chamber bodies, consumers associations and the vast majority of middle and low income buyers have pointed their finger at a new spate in prices. The prices have risen across the wholesale and retail networks. There have been clearly some fuel to the fire of prices and this is attributable not entirely to the government's mismanagement but also to some extent ascribable to extraneous factors. Incessant rain and high cost of import due to depreciation of taka value against dollar which, put together, have disrupted the supply side. Illegal toll collection by extortionists of all kinds, policemen not excluded, high transportation costs induced by raised diesel price are man-made factors behind price hikes. These together with Bangladesh Bank's contractionary monetary policy to contain inflation which is recoiling on private sector activity and productivity, hoarding practices, import duty and lid on imports are areas where the government need to intervene rather than taking umbrage on higher prices.