Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has alleged that market instability in Bangladesh is being fueled by middlemen and extortion rackets. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Mirpur-1 wholesale vegetable market in Dhaka on Tuesday morning, he said traders face silent extortion and occupation of market stalls but are afraid to speak out. He called for breaking the syndicates responsible for manipulating prices and pledged to continue the fight both inside and outside parliament.

Dr. Rahman stated that both consumers and farmers are suffering because of these syndicates, as farmers do not receive fair prices for their produce while consumers pay inflated rates. He cited examples of politically connected individuals renting government-allotted market spaces at exorbitant rates. The opposition leader urged traders to resist extortion and assured them of his support if they face retaliation for exposing such practices.

He also appealed to journalists to highlight the hardships of ordinary people to raise social awareness and help curb the influence of extortionists and corrupt networks.