The ministers concerned rejected the allegations and said the law and order has improved considerably while prices of necessaries are now 'quite reasonable'.

Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party (Ershad) lawmakers took a swipe at the government also for undermining the judiciary by appointing inept persons as judges. They said the administration has been grossly politicised in the last four and a half years.

The opposition members were participating in a discussion on budgetary allocation for different ministries.

They said the government has failed to deliver. It has done nothing to address the severe problems besetting the countrymen.

Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman told the House that a decision regarding the demands of the agitating schoolteachers will be taken by July 25. Replying on behalf of the primary and mass education ministry, he stressed the importance of improving the quality of teachers. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is in charge of primary and mass education ministry.

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said there has not been any corruption or nepotism in appointments by the government.

"Prices of essentials are now at a reasonable level. Except for two items, they are now lower than [those in] the Indian market," Commerce Minister M Hafiz Uddin Ahmed claimed.

He said the price of sugar has come down from Tk 55 to Tk 43 a kilogram.

Against an opposition statement that the commerce minister was chased by people at a kitchen market recently, Hafiz said the media reports were imaginary.

State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar said, "The law and order has improved."

Denying allegations of the state patronising the criminals, he said, "We don't have any bahini (groups) like Hazari Bahini or Golondaz Bahini."

About the opposition's allegation that the government is reluctant to investigate the August 21 grenade attacks properly, Babar said, "Everyone will know in detail about the incident very soon. The charge sheet is now at the final stage."

Earlier, AL lawmaker Mohammad Nasim asked the state minister for home to inform the House who were involved in the August 21 attack as during his recent US trip Babar said that the real culprits have been identified.

Referring to the Udichi blast verdict, Jatiya Party lawmaker GM Quader said all the accused were acquitted thanks to lack of proper investigation.

He said as per the government statistics at least 16,540 people have been killed during the present rule. Referring to the 'mass arrest' of common people to thwart the opposition programme, he said the incidents have exposed the anti-people character of the police.

On irregularities in primary education, he said, "The government has accommodated illiterate BNP leaders in the committees formed to oversee the recruitment of primary schoolteachers."

AL lawmaker Faruk Khan alleged that syndicates of pro-government businessmen have been controlling the prices of essentials through hoarding.

"The alliance government has destroyed the judiciary through politicisation. It has appointed dishonest persons as judges as all of them belong to the ruling parties," AL lawmaker Rahamat Ali alleged.

Independent lawmaker MM Shahin urged the government to increase the monthly allowance for community teachers from Tk 750 to Tk 2,000.

Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Abdus Shahid, Panchanan Bishwas, Shahjahan Khan, KM Jahangir and Rahamat Ali took part in the discussion.