People's purchasing capacity has increased: State minister

People's purchasing capacity has increased although the price of local products have gone up, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said today (27 February).

The state minister, on behalf of Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Tito, made the remarks in the Parliament while responding to a question of the Opposition Chief Whip and Jatiya Party MP elected from Kishoreganj Mujibul Haque Chunnu.

He said the government is committed to bringing the prices of daily essentials within people's purchasing capacity. 

The government is working relentlessly to this end, he said. 

He mentioned that a large portion of the daily essentials is produced in the country. 

"Generally we import edible oil, sugar and spice products. While determining the prices of imported goods international market value, transportation costs and other related matters are considered," he said.

Govt plans to send 60 lakh workers abroad in next 5 years: State Minister

The state minister said the government has a plan to send 60 lakh workers abroad in next five years.

The state minister said this in reply to a query from ruling Awami League MP elected from Bhola Nurunnabi Chowdhury in Parliament.

Responding to a query of Awami League MP elected from Laxmipur Nur Uddin Chowdhury Noyon, the minister said the government has taken various measures to increase overseas employment.

The measures included signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with 17 countries on sending manpower.

The state minister also said that as the ninth country, Bangladesh has earned acknowledgement to send skilled workers to Japan through memorandum of co-operation.

In reply to a query from independent MP Abdullah Nahid Niger, the state minister said Bangladesh is sending workers to around 176 countries in the world.

He also said a total of 99.9 lakh Bangladeshi people have been employed abroad in the last 15 years.