Photo : TDM
The abnormal price hike and a rather uncontrollable trend in checking the prices of daily commodities has put a strain on the running of low-income people’s household affairs in recent times – thereby turning their responsibility of running families into a tough ask.
Faced with such a crude reality, people – especially those earning Tk 20,000-Tk 30,000 per month – are apparently groping in the dark these days as they cannot afford to spend half of the month on this money. As a result, the lower-middle and middle classes are forced to bring unwanted changes in their lifestyle.
Market analysts are of the view that inflation has had a dire impact on the low-income people. Middle-income people are particularly under heavy pressure. The middle class is forced to give up even the slightest of luxuries. The standard of living for many has fallen far below what it used to be.
At present, if inflation and market are not controlled, they think, the life of common people will become more difficult.
When asked, President of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Golam Rahman said people’s income has not increased, rather the price of goods has skyrocketed.
“People are suffering a lot due to this. Lack of willpower on the part of the government is behind the inability to curb the abnormal rise in commodity prices. If the syndicates were broken, the rate of inflation could be brought down a lot.”
While talking to several people upon visiting a number of markets in the capital, it became evident that a large part of the people’s income gets spent as soon as they clear up house rent.
Last year, balanced nutrition foods including fish, meat, eggs, milk and fruits were cut from the menu of suffering families, but this year the families are running on debt. The middle class and the lower-middle class people are all crying out to get rid of the sorry state.
Market reality shows that if someone earns Tk 25,000-Tk 30,000 per month, s/he spends at least Tk 10,000-Tk 15,000 on house rent. Even one has to move towards the farther or remote areas leaving the heart of the capital. Besides, Tk 2500-Tk 3000 more has to be paid for gas, electricity and water bills. If one has to use cylinder gas, then there is an additional cost of Tk 1000.
After that, a family of three spends Tk 1500-Tk 1600 per month to buy a sack of 25kg rice at the lowest price in the market. In the market for daily necessities, fish and meat cost Tk 3000-Tk 4000, eggs Tk 400-Tk 500 a month, soybean oil of a 5-liter bottle at Tk 800, half kg of milk per day Tk 50, which amounts to Tk 1500 per month, onion, garlic, pepper, spices, sugar, soap etc. are bought at a low price of Tk 3000-Tk 5000, the cost of vegetables often hovers over Tk 3000-Tk 4000. After this, even if a family member spends at least Tk 50 per day for transportation, the cost per month stands at Tk 1500.
As a result, a family of three spends more than Tk 30,000-Tk 35,000 per month. Those who earn this money per month can do nothing to maintain savings. On top of this, if a guest comes to the house or if they need to buy medicine for some reason, they have no choice but to borrow.
A study by non-governmental research organisation Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) says that inflation in the country is unbridled and there is no sign of an immediate solution. In addition, many people are excluding various non-veg items like fish and meat from the food list to reduce costs.
The country’s leading thinktank says that a family of four living in the capital currently spends only Tk 22,421 on food per month. Even if fish and meat are excluded, food will cost Tk 9,059. This is the ‘compromised diet’ or people’s compromise in case of food intake.
When asked, CPD Research Director Khondaker Golam Moazzem told The Daily Messenger, “If inflation and the market cannot be controlled, the life of common people will become more difficult. While there are global factors for rising commodity prices, there are more domestic factors. If the government was sincere about the matter, the situation would not have deteriorated so much.”
Meanwhile, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) under the Ministry Commerce is selling some essential products at a slightly lower price in the market amid rising commodity prices. But it is very insufficient compared to the demand. The interested people’s queue for purchasing TCB items is getting longer to have daily products at lower price. Although only low-income people used to stand in such queues, the middle-class people are seen these days standing in the queues for long periods of time.
On the surface, it can be seen that many people are waiting at the designated place long before the arrival of the TCB vehicle in Mohammadpur area of the capital. As the TCB truck anchored, everyone jumped on the vehicle as if no one can wait to get the truck stopped in their frantic bid to take hold of the items therein. And this is what depicts a poor daily picture in the capital city these days.
TDM/AM
