Soaring prices of essential commodities have left Narsingdi’s low-income earners with few alternatives, as the district was hit by a double whammy of dry spells in business and consequent price increases.
Prices of almost all essentials have increased in all six upazilas of the district, and those with inadequate incomes are finding it hard to reconcile the gulf between their expectations and the reality.
This correspondent interviewed a number of individuals linked to different low-income professions and found almost similar reactions from all of them.
“I earn between Tk350 and Tk400 daily, and with the prices rising almost every day, it has become quite difficult for me to run my family,” said Hazrat Ali of Kawriapara village, a rickshaw-puller.
“I need at least 3kg rice per day; plus, there are other things to buy that are required by a family. None of these come a dime a dozen these days.
“So I had to cut our food budget, finding no other alternatives.”
Abul Kashem, another rickshaw-puller, said the existing political turmoil in the country and successive strikes enforced by the opposition made a big dent in his monthly earnings.
“And things went from bad to worse with the price increases of essentials, including rice and vegetables. Since my income hasn’t increased a bit, how can I cope with the increased prices of these things?” he added.
Abdul Bari, a high school teacher in Narsingdi town, said he earned Tk12,000 monthly but had a monthly expenditure of around Tk15,000.
“I tutor in the evenings to supplement my regular income. But with winter coming, there are warm clothes to buy for my family, and if prices jump any further, I am going to be in a fix for sure.”
Abdur Rahim, a third-class government employee, is facing a similar condition with a bare subsistence-level income and said he had been struggling to meet ends meet.
“It has become very difficult for me to run my family against the backdrop of increased prices. I have to spend Tk5,000 as house rent. There are utility bills, tuition fees of my children, everyday essentials and other expenses.
“I had to drastically reduce my expenditure because of the market situation.”
This correspondent visited a number of bazars in the district town, including Bara-Bazar, Natun Bazar, UMC Bazar and Bhelanagar bazar, and found that prices of almost all essentials had risen beyond government-fixed amounts.
Low-quality rice is selling at Tk35-36 per kg, medium-quality rice selling at Tk40 and fine-quality rice at Tk45. Each kilogram of domestic onions is selling at Tk95 while those imported selling at Tk90.
The prices of all kinds of cooking oil have risen, as have prices of vegetables. The onset of winter, the usual season for vegetables, has brought little relief for low-income consumers.
There are allegations that prices are rising due to tbe creation of an artificial crisis in the supply of commodities. Unscrupulous traders have been blamed for the crisis and resultant price hikes.
Local people urged the government to take immediate steps to contain price rates and ensure smooth flow of commodities in the market.