After 16 years of tyranny and persecution, when the interim government finally took over last year, people – especially those belonging to the lower rungs of the social ladder – believed that things will finally look up. Around 15 months into the assumption of office, it is evident that our economy as well as the livelihood of the masses is far from turning the corner.

According to a report published in a Bangla daily, people have stopped hosting guests. The number of wedding ceremonies is also on the decline. This social deviation is a bellwether for strained socio-economic conditions as Bengalis are known for their xenial nature.

While it may sound like not-so-important aberration, this – when explored from a deeper perspective – speaks volumes about the economic pressure on the ordinary people. The financial miseries of the common people of the country are crossing the threshold day by day. The unstable market has compounded the afflictions.

Not only has the price of daily necessities increased, but also the cost of transportation, medical expenses, and even children’s education are on an upward trajectory, railroading many families into abject poverty. In such a situation, a person earning Tk40,000 to 70,000 per month is struggling to bear the expenses of a family of around 4-5 people even after tightening the belt and borrowing money. Consequently, middle- and lower-class families are paying off their debts by breaking their savings.

This story of slowly getting trapped into an endless cycle of debt and social suffocation is becoming a commonplace of public life in our country. But this needs to stop as the government has a moral obligation to offer financial respite to the citizens. To cool off the soaring prices of essentials, the government needs to step up market monitoring. Most importantly, it is now urgent to tame inflation as it stands at 8.17% (as of October 2025).

Meanwhile, there is no visible step to increase the real income of the people. A study by Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC) has revealed that the monthly income of urban households has decreased over the past three years. The government cannot just turn a blind eye to this problem, rather they need to take some solid steps to bring people out of this spiraling vortex of unease.