The soaring prices of essential commodities have pushed the lives of ordinary citizens into a severe crisis. With the costs of fuel, LPG, and basic food items spiraling out of control, middle-class families are being forced to drastically reduce their daily consumption. Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and Chief Whip of the Opposition in the National Parliament, highlighted this dire situation during a leaflet distribution program at Karwan Bazar in the capital on Friday.
Nahid Islam remarked that an average person is now unable to purchase more than one or two items of vegetables when visiting the market. He pointed out that middle-class families have been forced to cut their egg consumption by more than half due to the unbearable cost of living. He strongly criticized the government MPs for their previous claims in parliament that prices would not rise after the budget, labeling those statements as deceptive and false.
Explaining the choice of Karwan Bazar for the campaign, Nahid Islam noted that as the central hub for vegetables and raw produce in Dhaka, it is also a hotbed for extortion, illegal occupation, and syndicate activities. He emphasized that these syndicates are the primary cause of the public's suffering and urged the people to unite against the extortionists, terrorists, and market manipulators who dominate these areas.
In protest against the deteriorating law and order situation, rising commodity prices, and the politicization of state institutions, the NCP has announced a mass demonstration scheduled for October 30 at Shahbag. As part of the preparations, the party's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South branches have launched a week-long leaflet distribution campaign. Nahid Islam asserted that the public will not find relief until these syndicates are dismantled.
Ultimately, the current inflation is not merely an economic issue but has transformed into a profound social crisis. Ensuring a market free from the influence of syndicates and stabilizing the cost of living has become an urgent necessity. The movement led by the NCP is being viewed as a reflection of public frustration, which analysts believe could have significant political implications in the coming days.
