<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday urged the interim government to take pragmatic steps as a priority to control the rising prices of essential goods to ease the financial strain on the people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Addressing a discussion programme virtually, he also urged the government to prioritise the elimination of the market syndicate that was established during the previous regime.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“People from all walks of life, particularly those in low-income groups and small businesses, are enduring significant hardships due to the unusual price hikes in essential items,” the BNP leader said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said that mere sweet words will not suffice while people remain half-fed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I call upon the interim government to take pragmatic steps immediately as a priority to lower commodity prices and provide relief to the public,” Tarique said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He lamented that commodity prices have surpassed the purchasing power of the ordinary people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“While it may be challenging to dismantle the business syndicate established during the previous regime, it is not impossible with genuine will and appropriate interventions,” the BNP leader said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ziaur Rahman Foundation organised the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, to mark its silver jubilee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tarique warned that associates of the deposed despotic regime are still conspiring to create difficulties for the government and undermine its success.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BNP leader also noted that the government's disarray has become evident and it has failed to establish a clear priority agenda.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the conflicting statements from various government advisers regarding the next election have caused confusion among the public.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ziaur Rahman Foundation adviser Dr Zubaida Rahman also addressed the programme virtually, extending her greetings to the members on the occasion of its silver jubilee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She wished the foundation continued success and urged its members to work towards the betterment of humanity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I hope the Ziaur Rahman Foundation will set a benchmark for serving humanity,” said Zubaida, who is also the wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>