Low-Income People: Eating less only way to get by
Many people with limited incomes are struggling to put food on the table due to the abnormal price hike of essentials.
"We've been having rice with only mashed potatoes and lentils for a long time. But now even the prices of these basic items are slowly going out of our reach. What will we eat?" said a frustrated Humayun Kabir, emerging from a grocer at Hemayetpur Bazar.
The garment worker from Notunpara area in Hemayetpur is the sole breadwinner for his family of four. He earns Tk 13,000 a month. He was forced to cut the consumption of fish and meat.
"The rent for our one-room home is Tk 4,000. I have to cover all our expenses, including food. I haven't been able to provide my children and wife with a healthy diet in a long time. How does it feel when you can't feed your children properly?"
Like Humayun, people with fixed and low incomes are struggling. Many said it was becoming more difficult every day for them to buy food.
Over one month, consumers witnessed soaring prices of almost all essentials.
The price of lentils (imported) has risen to at least Tk 110 a kg. It was Tk 90 at the capital's Karwan Bazar a month ago.
Potato prices went up by around Tk 9 and it now costs between Tk 45 and Tk 50 per kg.
Locally grown onion prices are now between Tk 80 and Tk 90 per kg, the price of which was at least Tk 10 less before. Imported onions are now between Tk 65 and 70 a kg, a Tk 20 jump from a month ago.
Imported garlic price increased to Tk 240 from Tk 220 a kg. Home-grown ones are Tk 250 a kg, up by Tk 10 from a month ago.
Fish and chicken prices have also gone up.
A two-kilogram ruhi fish was selling for Tk 350 to Tk 380 per kg. It was Tk 320 to Tk 360 a kg a month before.
The price of pangas fish, a cheaper option, increased to at least Tk 220 per kg from Tk 180. Tilapia prices went up to at least Tk 250 per kg from Tk 220.
Broiler chicken is now Tk 175 to Tk 180 a kg, up from Tk 165 to Tk 176.
The prices of most vegetables have also gone up.
"My income has not increased, but the prices of almost everything are rising," said Halima Khatun, a house help in the Hatirpool area.
She and a coworker went to Karwan Bazar to buy essentials yesterday, hoping that the prices would be lower there.
"I was wrong. The prices of essentials here are just as high as in the Hatirpool market," Halima told The Daily Star.
"Last month, I bought five kg of potatoes, but this time I decided to buy only two kg because the prices are high," she said.
"This time I will have to reduce the quantities of items I buy, but I will still be without money for transport. If this continues, we don't know how we will survive," she said.
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