Md. Zahid Hossain

Last Monday, I took on a duty I’ve done countless times before as a mess manager– I headed to the bazaar to buy daily essentials for our 10 member mess, and collected 4,000 takas from each member as I did before, I felt confident I’d be able to manage meals for at least three days. But as I walked through the crowded market, visiting vendor after vendor, my confidence quickly turned to disbelief. The prices had skyrocketed. I could barely fill my basket with the most necessities. The familiar sense of security that I used to experience when budgeting for the mess vanished, replaced by an unsettling realization that even with careful planning, feeding ten people was becoming a near-impossible task with a tight budget.

If we backed to our suffering what came first in our mind was “Bazaar syndicates”. In Bangladesh, It has long held significant power over market dynamics. These groups of traders, wholesalers, and middlemen collude to manipulate the supply and prices of essential goods such as rice, cooking oil, and vegetables. Their control over supply chains allows them to inflate prices and limit competition, making it difficult for regulatory bodies to intervene effectively. The sheer size and influence of these syndicates make them deeply entrenched in the market economy, and dismantling them requires systemic reform beyond what any one individual, no matter how influential, can achieve. Inflation is a reality for people like me, who manage daily expenses on limited budgets. It's a routine task, scrutinized for necessity, and disproportionately affects the poor, who are bearing the brunt of rising living costs.

Now our question, with unprecedented support why our interim government can't break this Bazaar syndicate? Prices of basic goods like rice, lentils, vegetables, onions, and cooking oil what not have surged to levels that are simply unsustainable for those living on fixed or low incomes. A kilogram of rice, which not long ago cost 50 takas, is now priced at 70-80 takas. Vegetables, once the affordable staple for many, have become so expensive that people are forced to cut back or settle for lower-quality produce.

The inflationary pressures are pervasive, affecting everything from transportation costs to healthcare, but food is where it hits hardest. For the poor and those like me managing group meals, it’s more than just an inconvenience. It’s a daily struggle that forces tough choices, for many, the decision comes down to survival, and nutritional needs are often sacrificed in the face of rising costs. The policymaker's abrupt shift toward blood-containing culprits is undesirable since it burdens middle-class students with daily maintenance challenges, as many require only one meal per day, despite the rational explanations to explain their activities. We know there are a lot of logical responses to defend this policymaker, even I could give them one like a child needs to take nine months to be born, how blood contained perpetrator be changed so immediately?

The situation is dire for those who rely on daily wages or small businesses, as their incomes often do not adjust in line with inflation. They face an ever-widening gap between what they earn and what they need to survive. For instance, a rickshaw puller who earns around 300 takas a day can no longer buy the same amount of food that his income once covered. This constant squeeze on their income drives many into deeper poverty, perpetuating a cycle that’s hard to escape from.

The rising cost of food is pushing more people into hunger. According to recent reports, millions of families are now unable to afford three meals a day. In households where adults skip meals to ensure that children can eat, malnutrition is becoming a growing concern. With inflation at record levels, hunger is no longer an abstract concept in rural villages or impoverished areas—it is increasingly becoming a common reality in urban centres as well. For families who are already vulnerable, the slightest increase in the price of rice or oil can push them to the brink of starvation.

As inflation continues to erode the value of money, it also deepens inequality. We don’t need to memorize the definition of inflation, we experience it. The wealth gap grows as the rich are better able to weather price increases, while the poor sink further into poverty. This growing disparity can lead to increased social unrest, as people become frustrated with their inability to secure basic needs despite working hard. Moreover, inflation’s psychological toll on the poor is immense. The constant stress of not knowing if tomorrow’s income will be enough to meet the day’s expenses erodes mental health and contributes to feelings of hopelessness and despair.

The current situation calls for urgent action. While inflation is a complex issue tied to global markets and national policies, targeted interventions are needed to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable. Governments and organizations must prioritize support for low-income families through subsidies for essential goods, direct cash transfers, and programs that create employment opportunities. Additionally, price controls on staple foods can help reduce the immediate burden on families struggling to make ends meet. It demands a commitment to social equity, ensuring that the poorest in society are not left behind as the cost of living continues to rise. Besides who creates such a situation even worse make sure their punishment.

The writer is a, Student, Department of English & Literature and Publication Secretary, Bangladesh Tarun Cloumn Lekhok Forum, Comilla University