For three and a quarter years in a row, the common consumer has been suffering from the pain of high inflation. Consumers have been reeling from high taxes in the name of inflation for a long time. The wrong policies of the previous government, looting, money laundering, running the country with printed money were mainly responsible for this. When the Awami League government fell on August 5, consumers were hopeful that if the new interim government took over, corruption would reduce, money laundering would stop, and product prices would decrease. Reckless eye-rolling of inflation will come down. Three months of the new government is completed today. The product price has not decreased. On the contrary, it has increased. Inflation has moderated slightly due to systemic reasons. But still very close to double digits. No strong move is in sight other than tightening monetary policy to reduce inflation. This shows a wide gap between consumer expectations and receipts. However, the government has promised that the product price will come down soon. At the same time, the rate of inflation will also decrease.

Analyzing the data of the Central Bank and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), it can be seen that since February 2022, the rate of inflation has been increasing more than the increase in consumer wages. During that time inflation was 6.17 percent and wages rose 6.03 percent. Inflation rate was higher than wages at 14.1 percent. That is, the consumption was more than the income of the consumer. This process is still ongoing. But the gap between income and expenditure has widened. In August 2022, the inflation rate rose to over 9.5 percent due to the impact of the global recession. In that month the income increased by 6.80 percent. Expenditure was 2.72 percent higher than income. Prolonged income-expenditure imbalances have left consumers in debt just as they have broken down savings to make ends meet. Reduced standard of living. In this situation, when the Awami League government fell, BBS independently calculated the inflation rate last July. Due to which this rate increased to 11.66 percent in that month. Income increased by 7.93 percent. During that time, the gap between income and expenditure increased by 3.73 percent. Which is a record in the history of Bangladesh. Allegedly, earlier the government used to reduce the inflation rate and increase the wage rate. Now that is not happening, the rate of inflation has increased.

According to the Awami League government, the main reasons for the increase in the inflation rate have been identified as the increase in the price of goods, devaluation of the currency, reckless borrowing from the central bank, and the phenomenon of money laundering. The new government took responsibility and completely stopped printing money from the central bank. The effect of printed money on the market has started to decrease by repaying the debt of the previously taken printed money without issuing new money. Money laundering from the country has been largely curbed. The dollar reined in the rise and has now stabilised, easing somewhat. Due to these managerial reasons, the pressure on inflation has decreased somewhat. That is why the rate has decreased slightly in last August and September. Inflation was 10.49 percent in August, 9.92 percent in September. During that time, wages rose slightly along with inflation. This has reduced the gap between consumer income and expenditure somewhat. But commodity prices are not decreasing. On the contrary, the prices of some products have increased. Powerful syndicates are behind the increase in commodity prices. Several ministers of the previous government were involved with the syndicate. Due to which they could not take any action against the syndicate. No one in this government is with the syndicate. Still the commodity is not decreasing. However, extortion did not decrease. Rather increased. Extortion also changed hands after the change of government. The government is yet to take any strong action against extortionists. In addition, the supply of products has not been normal. That is why the price of the product is not decreasing. Inflation rate is also not decreasing much due to non-falling of commodity prices. As a result, the consumer's suffering remains the same.

As the reason for the price of products not falling, the people concerned said that a large part of those who were big traders of daily commodities were party people of Awami League. Most of them are now absconding after the change of government. As a result they are not able to do business now. It reduces production and supply of goods. Due to the same, LC openings have decreased. As a result production has decreased. The price is increasing. A large section of businessmen were involved in corruption.

They are now absconding. As a result, the movement of that money in the economy has stopped. To reduce inflation, the central bank is reducing the flow of money in the market through contractionary monetary policy. Due to these reasons, as the movement of money in the market decreases, the supply of goods is hindered, and the prices are also increasing. Economists believe that it will take time for this situation to normalize. In this context, former president of Bangladesh Economic Association and former teacher of Chittagong University Economics Department Professor Moinul Islam said that money launderers and corrupt people fled after the fall of the government. They controlled a large part of the country's trade and commerce. Due to this, the production and supply of goods has decreased. The price has increased slightly. It will take some time for this situation to normalize. For this, the government should take some credible steps. The law and order situation should be improved. Business environment should be provided. An atmosphere of trust must be ensured. Then investment will increase. As a result the situation will be normal. The sooner the government can confirm these, the sooner the situation will normalize.

However, a Central Bank report attributed the slight decline in inflation to a number of measures taken by the interim government after it came to power to restore political stability. Inflation rate has started to decrease.

According to sources, the government has taken various steps to reduce the rate of inflation. Among them, the import duties on various products including rice, soybean oil, sugar, onions have been withdrawn. Depreciation of dollar and removal of LC margin. Although the cost of import is reduced, the price in the market is not reduced. These benefits given by the government are going into the pockets of businessmen. Strict supervision is not possible from the government in this case. Because the administration is still messy. That is why the level of supervision is also low.

Golam Rahman, the former president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh, said that after the fall of the government, the first demand of the consumer will be reduced by the new government. The government has started working towards that goal. It has given duty exemptions on several products to boost supply. Supervision has also been strengthened. The surveillance of the administration in the market has also been increased. A task force has been formed. Still, some products are manipulated by dishonest people. A few days ago, the price of eggs increased, but now it has been brought under control. However, the prices of some products are still high. The government should pay more attention to that. The consumer should be relieved by reducing the price of the product. If necessary, the dishonest should be brought under strict punishment.

Meanwhile, according to the information of the government organization Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), before the fall of the government on August 4, the maximum price of fine rice per kg was Tk 78. On November 3, it was sold at a maximum of 80 rupees. The price per kg has increased by Rs. Besides, Pajam rice was sold at Tk 58 per kg. Now selling for 65 rupees. 7 per kg has increased. Coarse rice per kg was sold at a maximum of Tk 54 per kg. Which is now selling for 55 rupees. The price per kg has increased by Rs. Packed flour was sold at Tk 70 per kg. Which is now being sold at 75 rupees. 5 per kg has increased.

The price of rice in the international market has started to decrease. India is the world's largest rice exporter. The country has already lifted the ban on rice exports. Additional tax on exports has also been withdrawn. After this news was published, the price of rice in the international market is decreasing. However, Bangladesh imports less rice, and most of the demand is met with domestically produced rice. Due to this, the price of rice may decrease slightly in the future. The price of wheat is also decreasing in the international market.

A day before the fall of the government, open soybean oil was sold at a maximum of Tk 155 per liter in the retail market. Sunday is selling for 160 taka. 5 per liter has increased. Bottled soybean oil was sold at Tk 167 per liter. Which is now selling for 170 taka. 3 per liter. Open palm oil is being sold at Tk 135 per litre. Which is now selling for 150 rupees. 15 per liter has increased. 140 per liter of palm oil super sold. Now the buyer has to buy at 154 rupees. The price has increased by Rs. However, the price of soybean oil has decreased quite a bit in the international market, while the price of palm oil has increased slightly. But despite the increase in the price of palm oil in the market, the price of soybeans has not decreased but has increased.

120 rupees per kg of desi onion sold. Now selling at 150 Tk. Imported onions were sold at Tk 100-105. Which now has to be bought for 120 rupees. A maximum of Tk 220 per kg of local garlic was sold. Now selling for 260 taka. Imported garlic was sold at Tk 180-220. Now selling at 200-230 Tk. Desi turmeric was sold for 350-400 rupees. Now the price is reduced to 320-400 taka. Imported turmeric was sold at Tk 300-350. The price has reduced and now it is being sold at 200-300 taka. Sugar was sold at Tk 125-135 per kg. Now have to buy for 130-135 taka. Broiler chickens were sold at Tk 170-180 per kg. Now 190-210 Tk. Each Hali farm egg was sold at 52 rupees. The price of which has reduced to 50 rupees now. However, the price of beef has increased. At that time it was sold at Tk 750-780 per kg but now it is being sold at Tk 800.

Besides, Patol was sold at Tk 50-55 per kg, but now it is being sold at Tk 60. A kg of tomato was Tk 150. Now it is selling at 160 taka per kg. 80 taka per kg long brinjal is now selling at taka 100. Potatoes are being sold at a maximum of Tk 70 per kg. Which was sold at the highest price of 65 rupees even the day before the fall of the government.

Meanwhile, the supply of all kinds of products including vegetables will increase in the upcoming winter season. Because then agricultural production is better. Besides, industrial production will also increase as the environment is favorable. It will reduce the price of the product. As a result, the inflation rate will also decrease a little in the future - the expectations of those concerned.