Skyrocketing Prices Squeeze the Poor

Dear Sir,

The rising prices of daily necessities have become a serious burden for people in Bangladesh. Vegetables such as potato, radish, gourd, drumstick, barbati, chichinga, bitter gourd and brinjal are selling at Tk 60-100 per kg, while green chilli costs Tk 320-350 per kg. Broiler chicken has risen to Tk 190-200 per kg, while beef costs Tk 800-850 and mutton Tk 1,150-1,200 per kg, making them unaffordable for many low- and middle-income families.

Sudden floods and adverse weather have affected vegetable supplies, but unscrupulous traders and syndicates also contribute to price hikes by hoarding essential commodities and selling them at inflated prices. The situation is particularly painful for low-income workers, such as tea workers in Sylhet, who struggle to buy basic food with their daily wages.

The government must therefore strengthen regular market monitoring through the Consumer Directorate, mobile courts and administration. Traders involved in hoarding, adulteration and artificial price hikes should face fines and exemplary punishment.

Proshanto Kumar Barman
Student, Department of Information Science and Library Management
Rajshahi University