Middle Class Cutting Egg Consumption in Half Amid Price Hikes: Nahid Islam

Ordinary citizens and middle-class families across Bangladesh are enduring severe hardship due to skyrocketing fuel, LPG, and food prices, said Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament. Speaking at the launch of a public outreach leaflet campaign at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka on Friday afternoon, he observed that consumers can barely afford more than a couple of vegetable items when visiting kitchen markets. He added that escalating costs have forced typical households to cut down their monthly egg consumption by more than half.

Nahid Islam criticized lawmakers from the ruling party, asserting that assurances given during the national budget session regarding price stability proved misleading to the public. He pointed out that extortion rackets and entrenched market syndicates continue to dictate prices across Dhaka's key distribution centers. Explaining the choice of venue, he noted that Karwan Bazar represents the core of the city's wholesale trade where syndicates cause direct distress to ordinary buyers, urging the public to unite against extortionists and monopolists.

In response to rising living expenses, deteriorating law and order, and institutional politicization, the NCP has scheduled a mass protest rally at Shahbagh on October 30, organized by its Dhaka North and South units. Party leaders confirmed that the ongoing week-long distribution of leaflets aims to build widespread awareness ahead of the demonstration. Speakers during the event also alleged that legitimate media scrutiny is being suppressed while street criminals and syndicates operate unchecked.

Characterizing the current administration's performance as anti-people, Nahid Islam maintained that systemic democratic reforms remain unaddressed. Holding the government accountable for nationwide economic strain and public insecurity, he demanded the immediate resignation of Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad and Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, declaring that public rights can only be safeguarded through organized civic resistance.