Market situation has become harder for people

The ongoing three-day blockade has increased the already high prices of some essential commodities anew.

Though the price of consumables has come down to pre Ukraine-Russia war level all over the world, or even at the pre-pandemic level, for Bangladesh the scenario has been opposite for a long time.

People who went to markets to buy groceries know that in the recent months, most consumable items touched new ceilings.

Yet the government did not admit its failure and shifted the blame for high food inflation on the war and pandemic.

While most people are finding it increasingly hard to maintain life, the government’s nonchalant attitude to public sufferings is bizarre.

The recent political developments have made the market situation even sour.

It is a pity that the people in the government care little about how their mindless acts and ubiquitous corruption have hit the lives of people.

Today, the price of most vegetables is around Tk 80 per kg or above. Potatoes are now selling at Tk 70 per kilo; Indian variety onion is now selling at Tk 130 per kilogram.

Fish, beef, chicken, eggs – all sources of animal protein – have gone long ago beyond the buying capacity of the low income group of people.

Prices of rice and wheat flour have come down a little, but they should have come down more in the Bangladesh market, at least at the pre Ukraine-Russia war level, though prices of grain have come down to at the pre pandemic level in the rest of the world.

In Bangladesh the crisis in dollar reserves forced the authorities to significantly limit imports that have kept prices of commodities very high and it is very unlikely they would come down any time soon as there is no prospect of improvement in the dollar reserves.

In the current political situation of Bangladesh, there is little hope that food inflation can come down to a tolerable level soon.

When the ongoing blockade will be gone, the market situation may improve a little.

But it will be short-lived as the political situation remains uncertain.

Experts have opined that at least after one year food inflation can stabilise.

This would be possible only if the current political impasse is over and democracy is restored with people getting back their voting right.