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DHAKA, Dec 19, 2024 (BSS) - Leaders of the Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of six political parties, today urged the government to bring the commodity prices under people's purchasing power by breaking the business syndicates. 

They made the call at a press conference at the central office of Nagarik Oikya at Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad building on Topkhana road in the capital.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Huq, Bhashani Onusari Parishad Convener Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmod Shapon, Ganosamhati Andolan Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel and several central leaders of the alliance spoke at the press conference.

Controlling price hike of the commodities should be the government's one of the top priorities, they said, adding that extortion should be stopped by strengthening the law enforcement forces. 

If the government does so, prices will come down gradually, they observed.

About next polls, they said democracy cannot be established without election. 

They said the government should take the minimum time for reforms and hold the elections quickly. 

The government has formed many reform commissions, but appointments are being made to important positions before getting the report of the reform commissions, they said, adding that this raised questions about the reform process.

They urged the reform commissions, formed by the government, to make their reports public so that all can analyze their proposals. 

A consensus can be made with the political parties through this and Bangladesh can embark on a new journey with pragmatic reforms, they said. 

They welcomed the roadmap of the next elections which Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus gave on his victory day speech.

They called for starting the process of updating the voter list from now.

If they start now instead of March, it can be completed in six months, they said.

About scrapping of a part of the 15th amendment to the constitution by the High Court, they said through this, the possibility of the return of the non-partisan caretaker government system has been created.

They proposed that when a caretaker government would be formed, it should have accountability to the next elected parliament.