Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. File Photo

DHAKA, Feb 25, 2025 (BSS) – Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said that the interim government has been trying its best so that the prices of commodities, especially the essential items, do not increase during the upcoming Holy Month of Ramadan.

“We’re trying our best to lower the inflation rate as it came down by one percent last month … we hope it will decline gradually so that at least the inflation rate come down at a reasonable level when the budget for the next fiscal year (FY26) will be announced,” he said.

The finance adviser was responding to the queries of reporters after chairing two separate meetings on the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs and Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today.

Asked what kind of assurance he wants to give to the countrymen on the commodity prices ahead of the Holy Month, he said that they are trying their best to ensure sufficient supply of commodities, including the essential items, during the upcoming Holy Month and beyond.

“To this end, we’re procuring and importing rice, lentil, edible oil and sugar, especially the price of sugar is now reasonable and we’re also trying to make the other items reasonable,” he added.

He said the first thing is to ensure the smooth supply chain and in doing so, there is also a role of market dynamics like the wholesalers and retailers.

“I’ve warned few days back that those who will stockpile and hoard illegally will be made accountable… there is the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) and other agencies to monitor the market,” he added.

The finance adviser also requested the consumers to bring into the attention of the concerned authorities if there are abnormal price variations of commodities anywhere and subsequently the government could take action immediately.

He said it’s not possible to take action all of a sudden across the country simultaneously rather it is possible to take action at a time in some areas.

When asked whether the next budget would be placed in due time, Dr Salehuddin said in the history of the country even during the period of the caretaker government, the placing of budget did not wait for anything.

“We’ll deliver the budget in due time. We’ll consult with the main stakeholders like businessmen, Dokan Malik Samity, and renowned economists. If the successive government thinks, they can revise the budget like we did in the current fiscal year,” he added.

The finance adviser said if the government does not announce the budget in due time and crosses the timeframe, then there might be some … the development partners have also their issues and projections.

Dr Salehuddin said he would later announce the date for declaring the budget for the next fiscal year (FY26) while the ADP would be considered by the NEC.

Replying to another question, Dr Salehuddin, also the former central bank governor, said that there is no such crisis of US dollars in the market, the imports of intermediate goods have risen as well as exports.

“Now the current account balance is positive, the financial account is positive, but it remains as a big challenge to keep intact such trend while our macroeconomic stability on the whole is not so bad,” he noted.

In the end, he said stability is required everywhere like the political stability and in law and order situation, adding that if there is no normal situation, then the businessmen and commoners suffer.

“It’s our first priority and we’re more or less very serious about these matters,” he added.

Replying to another question, the finance adviser said that the government has taken cognizance of the current law and order situation.

“We’ve agreed and we’re trying to fix the issue in a speedy manner,” he added.

Asked about the next budget, Dr Salehuddin said they would not put extra burden on those who are compliant and pay tax regularly, rather those who don’t pay taxes would be made accountable.

Regarding inflation, he said that his projection is that after Ramadan it would come down and reach into a reasonable level in June when the budget would be announced.

He also informed that the day’s purchase committee meeting considered the proposal for procuring LNG amid the upcoming summer season, import of wheat and urea fertilizer.