Fuel Price Hike Unlikely to Push Up Commodity Prices

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.

The recent increase in fuel prices is unlikely to have a significant impact on commodity prices, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said on Tuesday (22 September).

He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after distributing raincoats among tea workers at the Lakkatura Tea Garden factory field in Sylhet.

"The authorities would closely monitor the market to prevent businesses from exploiting the situation," the minister said.

He also said the government was taking steps to increase the income of tea gardens and improve the living standards of their workers.

"We held a meeting a few days ago on the prime minister's instructions to make tea gardens profitable," Muktadir said.

The government is considering planting timber and spice trees in tea gardens without affecting tea production, he said.

"We are discussing planting timber and spice trees. We are also planning to introduce solar power in gardens where possible to increase their income," he said.

According to the minister, increasing the income of tea gardens would also help improve workers' wages.

He said the government was arranging ambulances for tea workers, establishing schools in gardens that do not have them and repairing roads within the gardens.

"We are taking several planned steps to improve the living standards of tea workers. You will benefit from these initiatives in health, education, wages and other areas," he said.

Earlier, raincoats were distributed among 1,980 workers from different tea gardens.

Regarding the opposition's movement, Muktadir said elected opposition parties should act responsibly rather than make sensational statements.