It’s a typical price pattern -- every year, as Ramadan approaches, the cost of essential commodities climbs, sometimes sharply. And 2025 is no exception.
Long-term cost hikes hurt energy sector; BERC lost neutrality, harming consumers.
“Steps taken by the government so far failed to bring down prices of essential commodities,” said CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun
For many students on a tight budget, meals become purely practical, devoid of any consideration for nutrition or quality.
The government plans to sell some vegetables at subsidised prices for the low-income groups as part of a pilot project in the capital.
Harunur Rashid, a retired government employee, was taken aback by the steep price rise of okra at the capital’s Karwan Bazar yesterday.
The prices of rice, eggs, broiler chicken, soybean oil, palm oil, sugar and vegetables have increased significantly in Dhaka due to a supply shortage and incessant rain.
The prices of vegetables, chicken, and eggs have risen again in the capital’s kitchen markets after remaining almost stable for about a month.
Fatima Khatun, dressed in a washed-out kameez, came to Muslim Bazar in Mirpur 12 to shop with her four-year-old son on August 16.
Anyone with any faith in the market economy knew that the supply issues would be resolved eventually; but no one could possibly know when.
The Bangladesh Bank is yet to take any visible measure in line with a commerce ministry directive aimed at asking banks to earmark a portion of their foreign currency holdings to open letters of credit to import essentials ahead of Ramadan.
Some garment manufacturers are providing basic commodities to their workers at discounts opening shops on factory premises, bringing some relief amidst the skyrocketing of prices in the local markets.
Thousands of BNP activists have gathered on Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city’s Chowhatta area, hours before the rally starts.
Famine can be averted but we may still face a food crisis if the government cannot bring down prices
Govt must do more to stop consumers’ purchasing power erosion
Bangladesh made gains in food production and ensured the availability of rice in recent years. But surging inflation, erratic weather, and the Russia-Ukraine war affected the availability of cereals and reduced low-income people’s access to food this year.
If things are bad, there must be a good reason for it.
Floods, low rainfall and then fertiliser price hike -- the woes of farmers just won’t stop. And now, they will have to bear the brunt of a sudden 42.5 percent rise in diesel cost, which is likely to make them spend an additional Tk 4,000 in irrigation for per hectare Boro production.
The world is going through one of the worst energy crises in recent times, even if we compare it to the situation that arose out of the 1973 Arab oil embargo.
