In Khulna, a group of students is taking on the skyrocketing market prices with a bold initiative—a "no-profit shop" that's already bringing much-needed relief to locals.
Currently, the shop operates once a week at a specific location, but customers hope to see more shops and daily operations in the future.
On Friday afternoon, students set up the no-profit shop at the Shibbari intersection of the city.
Under the banner of the "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Khulna," they sold lentils for Tk99 per kg, eggs for Tk12 each (Tk48 per four), potatoes for Tk50 per kg, and onions for Tk100 per kg. Red spinach was sold for Tk25 per kg, and large gourds for Tk40 each.
The shop operated from 3pm to 8pm, and customers could purchase their necessary items from there.
In contrast, in the regular market, lentils are sold for Tk120 per kg, eggs for Tk52–55 per four, potatoes for Tk60 per kg, onions for Tk120 per kg, red spinach for Tk70–80 per kg, and gourds (small to medium) for Tk40 each and larger ones for Tk60.
Kaniz Fatema, a customer at the no-profit shop, said: "This is a good initiative. If this initiative is taken everywhere, it will benefit ordinary people. I bought potatoes, onions, and eggs from here. The prices of these items are much higher in the market."
Hridoy Ghorami, a member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement's market control task force in Khulna, said: "This no-profit shop has been set up by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Students from all over Khulna involved in this movement are participating in this initiative. We have taken this step to break the price-hike syndicate in the market. It's not possible to break this syndicate in one day. We will operate the shop every week. At the same time, we are working to understand how the syndicate operates. Once we figure that out, we will be able to break the syndicate."
Naim Mallik, a student of Khulna University, said: "Food is a basic human right. The no-profit shop has been set up to ensure that ordinary people can get through their day by eating well. It will be operated every Friday. We are also planning to run it on other days of the week and to add more items."
Zahurul Islam Tanvir, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Khulna, said: "Due to the syndicate, the prices of vegetables and other goods in the market are continuously rising. The syndicate buys goods from grassroots farmers and then increases the prices. To break the syndicate, we, the students and the public, have set up this no-profit shop. This shop will gradually expand to all 31 wards. We will soon break the dark hands of the syndicate."
