Rising Costs Leave Low-Income Families Struggling for Eid

As glittering shopping malls and crowded markets signal the approach of Eid in the capital, a starkly different reality is unfolding in its narrow alleys, where thousands of low-income families are preparing for a festival without joy.

In Mohammadpur’s Geneva Camp and nearby slums, the usual festive spirit is largely absent. Instead, daily life is dominated by rising food prices, shrinking incomes and mounting debt.

“I have three children. They keep asking for new clothes, but I cannot even ensure regular meals,” said Rahima Begum, a domestic worker. “Eid now feels like any other difficult day.”

The situation is similar in Basila, where many families live in makeshift homes along the riverbank. Day labourers and rickshaw pullers say their incomes have dropped sharply while living costs continue to rise.

Md Hanif, a rickshaw puller, said his daily earnings have fallen from Tk 700–800 to around Tk 400 on some days. “After paying rent and buying essentials, nothing is left. Eid is a luxury we cannot think of,” he said.

Many families say they are cutting down on meals to cope. Meat — a staple of Eid celebrations — has become unaffordable.

“My children have not eaten beef for months,” said Shirin Akter, who lives near Basila Bridge. “They keep asking if we will have meat on Eid day. I have no answer.”

In Badda, another densely populated area of informal workers, the story remains the same. Garment workers, cleaners and small vendors say wages have remained stagnant despite soaring expenses.

Rashid Mia, a construction helper, said he has struggled to find regular work in recent weeks. “Some days I sit idle from morning to evening. Eid is near, but I have no savings. It is painful when my children ask for things I cannot provide,” he said.

Women in these communities are bearing the heaviest burden, often sacrificing their own meals to ensure their families can eat.

“Everything is expensive — rice, oil, vegetables,” said Nasima Khatun, a part-time cleaner. “I skip meals so my children can eat. For Eid, I only wish they can have a decent meal.”

Even in Uttara, considered one of Dhaka’s more affluent areas, pockets of hardship persist among low-paid workers living in informal housing clusters.

Abdul Karim, a security guard, said his salary has remained unchanged for years. “My employer gives a small bonus, but it is not enough. Prices have doubled. Eid now brings stress instead of happiness,” he said.

Many families rely on informal loans to manage Eid expenses, often trapping them in cycles of debt.

“I borrowed money last Eid and I am still repaying it,” said Salma Begum, a housemaid. “This year, I may have to borrow again just to buy clothes for my children.”

Inflation continues to intensify the pressure. Point-to-point inflation rose to 9.13 percent in February, driven largely by higher food prices, according to official data. Wage growth has failed to keep pace, eroding purchasing power for low-income groups.

As Eid approaches, the widening gap between affluence and hardship across the capital has become increasingly visible — a reminder that for many, the festival is no longer a time of joy, but a struggle for survival.