Keeping prices at bay

Keeping prices at bay

The prices have soared for almost all food items persistently, sometimes artificially increased through syndicates and sometimes putting up with the international market. An effective strategy is what people look forward from the newly elected government – a strategy that would discuss solutions more than meetings, roundtables and bluffs. Mushfique Wadud asks policymakers and eminent economists for their prescriptions to control the price hike

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith
Former finance minister
At present prices of food items in the international market are stable. I am confident I can control the food prices if I take the helm of finance ministry. How?
We have a six-point programme in our manifesto that will control the prices of food items. Many importers continue to sell goods at a higher price reasoning their sale from earlier stocks. This has to be checked thoroughly.
Read more at

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/02/jan02/xtra_inner3.html

Redefining hand-to-mouth

Redefining hand-to-mouth

Prior to the implementation of the seventh pay commission, Musfequr Rahman and Mushfique Wadud talk to government officials, from five different professions, and find out about their individual battle for survival against rocketing prices of essentials, house rent, educational expenses, with their given salary scales

photo by Prito Reza

The growing financial crisis of the last two years has hit the poorer sections in the country hard, but it has also done damage to those with fixed income salaries who are growing poorer at a higher rate, as the currency devalues and prices shoot upwards. Even in mid-2008, inflation fluctuated to two-digit numbers; accounting for the prices spiral of essentials, house-rent, transportation, education and other necessary items.
Read more at

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/23/jan23/xtra_cover.html