Extortion, Syndicates Fuel Market Volatility: Opposition Leader

Special Correspondent: Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman stated on Tuesday that extortionists and middlemen are the primary culprits behind the country's volatile commodity markets. Speaking to the media following a 6:00 AM inspection of Mirpur Shah Ali wholesale market in the capital, Dr Shafiqur highlighted the severe struggles of ordinary citizens grappling with soaring prices. During his visit, local traders alleged a pervasive culture of "silent extortion." They revealed that government-allocated shops, initially rented out for just Tk 5,000, are being illegally sublet by the original allottees for up to Tk 150,000. Imposing a heavy financial burden, these practices are driving up costs, yet many traders admitted they were too intimidated to publicly identify the extortionists.Addressing the fear within the business community, the opposition leader called for collective resistance. "These extortionists do not come from the jungles of Africa; they are people who move among us, and we all know their identities," Dr Shafiqur remarked. He reiterated his recent stance in parliament, asserting that if lawmakers genuinely resolved to eradicate extortion, the practice would cease immediately.  He assured the traders of his party's full support should they choose to stand up against the syndicates.Dr Shafiqur emphasized that unchecked inflation has made basic survival incredibly difficult for low-income families. He criticized a broken supply chain where farmers are deprived of fair prices for their produce and consumers are denied affordable goods, with illicit profits swallowed entirely by intermediaries. Pledging to continue his on-the-ground assessments, Dr Shafiqur announced plans to inspect retail markets and agricultural production hubs next. "Our fight against these syndicates has begun. We will not stop. Our demands and protests will continue relentlessly, both inside and outside parliament," he declared.