When his children ask Russel Shaikh why there is no meat and even fish in their meals, he has no answer. This is because he simply has no choice as soaring prices of essential commodities and the rising cost of living have hit hard the pockets of the low-income people like him.

The price of rice rose by around nine percent in the capital in 2018 compared to a year ago, while the cost of living increased by six percent, the lowest in nine years, said the Consumers Association of Bangladesh yesterday.