TDS Desk:

Criticizing the recent moves, its General Secretary Akhtar Hossain told a press conference on Saturday  (11 January) that this would result in an increase in the country’s inflation.

Speaking at the press conference, he said, “VAT has been increased on over a hundred products. As a result, inflation will rise. I would like to urge the interim government not to take action under IMF conditions that will make people lose their trust in the government.”

Criticising the closure of the TCB truck sale programme, Akhtar Hossain said, “TCB supplies essential goods to the underprivileged at subsidised rates. By suspending the truck sale, the government has only increased the sufferings of the common people.”

Leaders of the committee also said though the government’s effort to increase revenue is natural, it should be done in a way that does not further burden people’s living costs.

They also called on the government to take action to recover Tk92,000 crore looted from banks and Tk2 lakh crore in default loans.

“If the $234 billion of money embezzled by the [ousted] Awami League government is brought back to the country, the economy will become stronger,” the committee’s general secretary said.

Referring to there being no fixed date for the announcement of the July uprising proclamation, he said, “We expect visible steps from the government. At the same time, there is excessive reverence for the 1972 constitution from some political parties, which is questionable.”

Opposing the rush to organise the national election without completing the necessary reforms, Akhtar Hossain said, “Parties demanding an early election are positioning themselves against the aspirations of the people. I urge the government not to do anything that will make people’s lives more difficult.”