"The rice stock in the government warehouses has come down to only half a million metric tons, which should not be less than a million tons," he said, adding, "It is highly irresponsible on the part of the government to allow food stocks to dip so low."

"Latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reports show that inflation rate of food items currently stands at 10.42 percent, even in the Aman season. On a cumulative basis, the increase in food grain prices since 2001 would be close to fifty percent."

"It is a matter of shame that the present government passed a law to increase the salaries of the prime minister and ministers even before the pay commission was announced. This clearly shows the lopsided values and priorities of the present government and lack of concern for the welfare of the low income people," Kibria said.

"The distorted priorities of the government must be revised to save the poor people of the country," he commented.