People suffer from price hike

The soaring prices of essential commodities are causing sufferings to the low-income and middle-class people in all six upazilas of Narsingdi.  A large number of common people said they did not know how they would lead their lives with their fixed income.    “I earn Tk350 a day, now it is impossible for me to maintain my family with due to price hike of essential commodities,” said one Kashem, a rickshaw puller of Ghoradia village in the district.   “I need at least three kilograms of rice a day for my family, if I buy the rice I can hardly manage other commodities with the rest of the money,” said another rickshaw-puller Hazrat Ali of Kawriapara village. Though the price of rice, sugar, oil and other daily commodities normally increase ahead of Ramadan, our incomes do not increase, said Fazlul Haque and Abdul Hye, two primary school teachers in the Sadar upazila.   Not only Kashem, Fazlu and Abdul Hye, but many others also found it difficult to run their families with their fixed income.   “I earn Tk12,000 per month but my family expenditure is Tk15,000, said Abdul Bari, a high school teacher of Narsingdi town, adding: “In this situation I do not know how I will run my family.”   This correspondent on July 2 visited Narsingdi Bara-Bazar, Natun Bazar, UMC Bazar, Bhelanagar Bazar and found that prices of all kinds of essential commodities have increased.   Low quality rice is selling at Tk35 to Tk36 per kg, medium quality rice at Tk40, fine quality rice Minicate at Tk45 and Nasirshail at Tk50. Soybean is being sold openly at Tk40 per kg.   Prices of all kinds of vegetables have marked a sharp rise in recent days. Brinjal is sold at Tk40 per kg, papaya at Tk30, tomato at Tk 65, bitter gourd at Tk40, cucumber at Tk20, potato at Tk15 and green chili at Tk80.   Locals alleged that a section of dishonest traders have hoarded the goods in their godowns to create the shortage of essential commodities in the markets and earn huge amounts of money.    The sufferers said the administration should take pragmatic steps to contain the price hike immediately.