Unrestrained inflation

The price of essentials is rising day by day. Consumers are now gasping for breath due to continued inflation. Starting from rice, all daily commodities are being sold at increased rates. The price of baby food is skyrocketing. The prices of powder milk have reportedly increased again by Tk 30 to Tk 60 per kilogramme. This has been having a telling effect not only on the poor but also on the middle class. Transportation is getting costlier. As a result, the prices of fruit and vegetables are rising too. Thus, the prices of every household item have also gone up.

It looks like the instability in the commodity market is not waning due to the syndicates' control for a long time. People's income is not increasing although their expenditure is skyrocketing. People are suffering due to this imbalance of income and expenditure. According to the survey of the World Food Programme, a total of 37 per cent of people's income has decreased in Bangladesh in September.

A more pressing concern is that the rising inflation has provided leverage to some syndicates, which often hoard commodities and sell them later at higher prices. Studies show that during financial crises, people lean towards buying comparatively cheaper foods, cutting down on the purchase of nutritious food. These foods are usually low in nutrients but high in carbohydrates, which obstruct a person's healthy growth. So, we urge the authorities concerned to take every step to control the prices of all commodities and ensure their availability across the country in the required quantity.

Ashikujaman Syed,

Research Assistant,

Bioinformatics Research Lab,

Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID),

[email protected]