Staff Correspondent

Inflation in Bangladesh rose to 10.87% in October, the highest in three months, as surging food prices eroded the gains of August and September.

With the interim government assuming office on 8 August, inflation had dropped to 10.49% in August from July’s 11.66%, and dipped further to 9.92% in September.

But as the government has struggled to challenge food market syndicates and repeated floods in the country’s east hit supplies, food inflation surged 12.66% in October, up from 10.40% in September, pushing up the overall inflation rate.

While food prices are rising, non-food inflation has decreased slightly, falling from 9.50% in September to 9.34% in October.

The average inflation rate this year is now 10.16%, higher than last year’s 9.55%. People with fixed incomes, such as low-wage workers, are facing difficulties as prices keep going up. Although wages for unskilled workers have risen slightly, they are still struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.

In October, rural inflation went up to 11.26% in October from 10.15% in September. In urban areas, it rose slightly to 10.44% from 10.38% last month.

Experts are calling on the government to take action to control inflation. They suggest increasing food stocks, improving market management, and better monitoring prices. They have also pointed out that, even though global commodity prices have been falling, the prices in Bangladesh have not dropped because of poor market management. Additionally, the rise in the dollar rate has led to a decrease in the supply of dollars, which is contributing to inflation.