The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Tuesday directed the secretaries to remain cautious about the overall situation of prices of essentials, law and order, traffic congestion, and supply of electricity and gas during the upcoming holy month of Ramdan and Eid.

The directives were given at a meeting held at the PMO chaired by Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah.

He gave the directives on behalf of the Prime Minister before the holy Ramadan and Eid, said a release.

The secretaries presented the plannings of their respective ministries in this regard.

The commerce secretary has been asked to increase vigilance so that the prices of essentials cannot rise by any means.

Besides, the Principal Secretary asked all concerned to take necessary measures to resist hoarding.

He directed the home secretary to take proper steps to maintain law and order while the secretary of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has been asked to keep the supply of gas and electricity normal during sehri and iftar.

Tofazzel said there are sufficient food and essentials products in the country during this Ramadan  Besides, there are sufficient food grains and other food items in the markets, he said.

He said, “We have taken all preparationa centering the Ramadan and we can observe the Ramadan and Eid very well.”

The principal secretary said the government has taken food-friendly programmes for the lower income people and essentials will be distributed through OMS and TCB. Besides, oil, sugar, dal, chickpea, onion and dates will be distributed among one crore people two times, he said.

He urged the concerned secretaries to implement the directives of the premier to reduce the sufferings of people.

The meeting also discussed about ensuring getting tickets, maintaining discipline on highways, reconstruction of roads and bridges before the Eid, increasing ferries and salaries of garment and jute mills workers.

PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, secretaries of Commerce Ministry, Home Ministry, Road Transport and Highways Division, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, Public Security Division, Railways Ministry, Local Government Division, Industries Ministry, Labour and Employment Ministry, Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reform), Bridges Division, Textiles and Jute Ministry, Food Ministry, Power Division, Religious Affairs Ministry, Shipping Ministry and chiefs of different agencies were present.