Earlier, WFP had published another report titled ‘Bangladesh Market Monitor: May-July’ in September. In that report, the agency said food prices in Bangladesh were rising due to a decline in remittance inflows and a reserve crisis (foreign exchange).
Along with this, the report said that the cost of production of food products like rice and vegetables has increased due to increase in prices of fertilizers, electricity and fuel. The report said that in August last year, the country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by 25 percent and the value of Taka fell the most on record.
Additionally, the latest Food and Expenditure Survey of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), published in April 2022, states that the poverty rate in the country stands at 18.7 percent. The survey showed that poverty rates have declined despite the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
This correspondent spoke to Minara Begum, a resident of East Qazipara, Mirpur, to understand the situation of low-income families in the country. She works as a domestic help in other houses. Of the other three members of the family, two work as daily wage labourers. Overall, the family income is 25,000 to 30,000 taka per month. Mentioning that it costs 700 to 800 taka to provide three meals a day to a family, he said the price of rice has decreased slightly, but the price of vegetables and eggs has increased.