While the government and political parties remain absorbed in election struggles, ordinary people are drowning in economic hardship and insecurity. Prices of essential goods continue to rise beyond people’s reach, and the economy has been pushed into a fragile state over the past year and a half. Yet the suffering of the people did not begin today; it is the result of years of accumulated pressure.
From the outside, everything may appear normal — offices are open, markets are running, vehicles are on the road. But behind this apparent normalcy lies a silent storm brewing in the lives of millions. Families are struggling to meet basic needs like food, rent, medicine, and education. Many middle-class families, once stable and hopeful, are gradually sliding toward poverty.
The desperation has grown so severe that some individuals, unable to bear the pressure, have taken their own lives. Economists note that this situation did not emerge overnight — the foundation of today’s crisis was laid years ago. Prolonged mismanagement, corruption, inefficient policies, and fraudulent activities such as dollar manipulation have pushed the economy into a deep rut.
The collapse of financial institutions is one of the biggest contributors to the crisis. Thousands of crores of taka have been embezzled through loan scams. Banks have been forced to reschedule large loans under political influence. Many of those who took these loans never repaid them and fled the country, leaving the burden on ordinary citizens. These incidents broke the backbone of the banking sector. The government then attempted to fix the situation by printing more money — fueling even more inflation. The cycle of mismanagement only worsened.
Another major factor is the rapid depreciation of the taka. Just two years ago, 1 US dollar cost around 85 taka; today it is more than double. This sudden collapse of the currency has increased the price of everything from edible oil to fuel, placing an even heavier burden on consumers.
Remittances — one of the pillars of the economy — have also declined. Many expatriates prefer sending money through hundi due to better rates, reducing the supply of dollars and creating further instability.
Employment opportunities are shrinking. Thousands of small and medium enterprises have closed due to high import costs and weakened purchasing power. Unemployment has surged, leaving the younger generation frustrated. Many educated youths are desperately trying to leave the country by any means — even through dangerous routes.
Farmers are suffering as well. They are not receiving fair prices for their produce, while rising production costs push them into losses. Prices of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, irrigation, seeds, and pesticides have increased significantly. Middlemen and syndicates continue to capture most of the profit, leaving farmers trapped in poverty.
Amid all this, the government continues to make promises — but people are tired of promises. They want real solutions, not slogans. Experts believe that unless corruption is curbed, the banking sector is reformed, the value of the taka is stabilized, and investment-friendly policies are adopted, the crisis will only deepen.
The silent tears of the people can no longer be ignored. Their suffering must be acknowledged. In the end, development is meaningless if citizens cannot meet their basic needs. The true measure of progress is not megaprojects — it is whether ordinary people can live with dignity.
Audite Karim is a writer and playwright.
Email: [email protected]
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
