Has Power Become More Important Than People’s Survival?

While political leaders remain busy with power struggles and political calculations, ordinary people are being pushed further into hardship. Rising prices, shrinking incomes, and growing economic uncertainty are making daily life increasingly difficult for low-income families across the country.

Seventy-four-year-old Ansar Ali is one of them. Despite his age and physical exhaustion, he still pedals a rickshaw every day just to survive. What he earns after hours of labor is barely enough to keep his family afloat. Fish and meat have become luxuries he can no longer afford. For lunch, a single flatbread and a cup of tea are often all he has.

Khoka’s life tells a similar story. He wakes up at four in the morning to carry heavy loads for work. Even after an entire day of physical labor, his income is not enough to meet basic household expenses. Delowar, once a small shop owner, was forced to close his business after suffering continuous losses. Today, he works as a day laborer to survive.

Many ordinary citizens are now asking: who is responsible for this crisis? Political observers argue that years of corruption, extortion, and economic mismanagement have weakened the country’s economy. Opposition groups have also alleged that the recent election lacked meaningful participation and excluded major political forces, raising questions about whether the people’s true voice was represented.

At the same time, the growing political presence of Jamaat has reignited old controversies. Their role during Bangladesh’s Liberation War remains deeply criticized by many sections of society. Critics continue to question what the return of such forces means for the country’s political future.

Beyond political arguments and party rivalries, however, ordinary people are demanding something much simpler: lower prices, stable incomes, and the ability to live with dignity. For people like Ansar Ali, Khoka, and Delowar, politics is not about who sits in power. It is about whether they can afford two meals a day, support their families, and live without constant fear of hunger and uncertainty.