Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the newly-appointed ministers to take necessary steps to keep prices of essentials under control during holy Ramadan.

“Holy Ramadan is coming and take necessary steps to ensure that the prices of the essentials are not increased during this month,” she said.

The prime minister said this while holding an informal meeting with the ministers who came here to pay homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The meeting was held at her own residence at Tungipara in Gopalganj, her home district.

Sheikh Hasina arrived here early in the day for her first visit outside the capital since winning the 7 January national election with an absolute majority. The massive win gave her the fourth straight term in office and the fifth overall.

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin briefed the reporters after the meeting. He said that this was an informal cabinet meeting.

He mentioned that the prime ministers asked the ministers to take measures during Ramadan, especially against the big hoarders so that they cannot create an artificial crisis of commodities.

She also asked the ministers to conduct anti-hoarding drives regularly in this connection.

“Put the prices of essentials under control so that the people could live in comfort,” she was quoted as saying.

The PMO secretary said the prime minister gave directions to her first-time cabinet colleagues to know the ins and outs of his or her ministry first.

Salahuddin said PM Hasina asked the ministers to highly consider the benefits to the country and its people while taking up any project.