Elite forces like the Rab have been raised to fight crimes and nab criminals, not control prices or prohibit obscene films, the meeting was told.

However, the high-powered weekly meeting on law and order held at the ministry's conference room has made provisions for Rab to raid markets to arrest toll collectors and hoarders, sources said.

Meantime, the onion dealers of Khatungonj, business hub of the port city, who observed strike on Tuesday protesting raid by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), resumed their sales and other business transactions yesterday, market sources said.

"The traders of Khatungonj agreed to resume their activities after we gave assurance that no further raids would be launched by Rab. The traders also agreed to sell onion and other goods at a reasonable rate on the basis of cost price," Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Amir Humayun Mahmud Chowdhury said.

"I talked with Rab officials who agreed not to raid the markets any more without consulting the chamber leaders," said the CCCI president.

Rab Commander of Chittagong Kazi Emdadul Huq said they postponed raiding the city markets following requests from the leaders of CCCI.

Amir Humayun, meanwhile, termed the Rab raid 'sabotage' against Rab. "I think some quarters are out to use Rab against business community. Rab was not supposed to go for sudden raids at Khatungonj," said Amir Humayun, adding that such move can not help bring down the prices in the market.

Some of the traders, however, still don't feel free to import rice, onion, and other essentials fearing further action by Rab.

Ctg Rab on Monday launched raids on different onion wholesale shops at different markets in Khatungonj, Chaktai and Asadgonj as part of anti price-hike drive when the dealers were forced to sell onion at Tk15 a kg. Rab also raided Reazuddin Bazar in the heart of the city on Tuesday.

Yesterday's meeting of the home ministry also observed that despite a ban on ageing passenger buses, they are still plying the city roads, tampering with registration and engine numbers.

"A section of Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA) officials are carrying on these illegal activities for bribe," a participant told the meet.

He said unscrupulous BRTA officials are also responsible for giving fake registration numbers to over 12,000 CNG-run auto-rickshaws now on the streets without valid documents. The government has allowed only 13,000 CNG- run auto-rickshaws in the city.

The meeting has decided to launch block raids in the city from today to cut crimes during the Durga Puja and Ramadan. It also decided to deploy around 650 policemen in the city markets. Besides, 45 mobile police teams each comprising 10 members will be on patrol.

Chaired by State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, the meeting discussed fixed bus, rail and launch fares during Eid vacation, law and order, activities of police detectives and mobile courts and measures to stop extortion.

Babar suspects a rise in illegal dealings of forged currencies during Ramadan and directed police to check such activities.

The home secretary, inspector general of police, directors general (DG) of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles, Ansar and Rab, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and other top ministry and police officials, among others, were present.