Poor Folks

In the district of Joshor, located in the Sagordari subdistrict, lived a man named Rohimuddin. He worked as a rickshaw puller, ferrying passengers to and fro all day long. Unfortunately, despite his hard work, he could only manage to earn a meager sum of 100 taka from morning till evening.

Rohimuddin's family eagerly awaited his return each day, as they relied on his income to put food on the table. He had a loving wife and three children, two daughters, and a son. All three children were school-going students, and their mother took care of the household as a homemaker.

That day was no different. The family had started their day with a meagre meal of bread, eagerly waiting for their father to return with rice and some ingredients. Rohimuddin went to the local shop, fully aware of the ongoing inflation that had plagued the country in 2023.

He approached the shopkeeper and asked for half a kilogram of rice. The shopkeeper quoted a price of 40 taka, which saddened Rohimuddin. He then proceeded to buy vegetables, which cost him an additional 30 taka. As he pondered buying some fish, he inquired about the price. To his dismay, the shopkeeper informed him that 500 grams of fish now cost 200 taka, a significant increase from the previous price of 50 taka.

Shocked by the escalating prices, Rohimuddin realized that his family's budget would not allow for the purchase of fish that day. Disheartened, he returned to the shop and settled for 300 grams of a less expensive variety of fish.

When he arrived home, his children's faces lit up with joy at the sight of their father. They were happy to see him after a long day's work, unaware of the financial struggles he faced. However, their joy was tempered by their father's gloomy expression.

It had been five months since the family had enjoyed meat or chicken, and even the cheapest fish was a luxury they could only afford occasionally. The children remained blissfully unaware of their family's financial hardships, finding solace in their father's presence.

Despite the challenges they faced, Rohimuddin's family remained resilient. They cherished the love they shared, finding happiness in each other's company. Together, they faced the trials brought on by inflation, hoping for brighter days ahead when they could once again enjoy a more abundant and fulfilling life.