Many people in Bangladesh believe that the interim government has faced challenges in managing the rising prices of essential commodities compared to the previous Awami League (AL) government, says a survey conducted by Voice of America (VoA) Bangla. The survey, involving 1,000 participants aged 18 and above from eight divisions across the country, revealed that 44.7% of respondents believe the government has performed poorly in controlling the prices of essential commodities such as rice, fish, vegetables, eggs, meat and oil. Survey Results Among the people polled, 23.8% believe the current government is performing better than the previous one. Around one-third of the participants—30.8%—feel that the situation has remained unchanged. A gender disparity was noted in the survey regarding opinions. While 31.3% of males felt the interim government was doing better than the previous government, only 16.3% of females shared this view. A total of 41.2% of females believed the situation had remained the same, compared to just 20.3% of male respondents. The survey sample was representative of Bangladesh's demographics, with equal numbers of male and female respondents. Besides, 92.7% of the participants identified as Muslim. Excelerate Energy delivers two cargoes of LNG to Petrobangla Over 50% of the participants were aged under 34, and nearly a quarter lived in urban areas. Severe Financial Strain Hiren Pandit, a resident of Mirpur and programme coordinator at a private organisation in Dhaka, had been living comfortably with his four family members. But, the year 2024 has brought severe financial hardship. "We are in a suffocating situation due to the rising prices of goods," Pandit told VoA, adding, "Rent has increased, the prices of everyday items have soared, and things that used to cost Tk 140 have risen by Tk 30." Inflation Inflation stood at 9.72% in June 2024, rising to 10.87% by October. This period has witnessed political turmoil in the government. However, inflation did not suddenly spike due to political instability in July 2024, even though it reached its highest point of the year—11.66%—that month. Cargo vehicle terminal construction at Benapole land port ends, set to open in October Inflation had fluctuated between 5% and 6% in 2020 and 2021. But, from mid-2022, inflation began to rise, crossing 9% in 2023 and nearing 10%, according to Bangladesh Bank data. After the interim government assumed power in August, inflationary pressure on essential commodities persisted. While inflation decreased slightly in September, it climbed again to nearly 11% in October. Economists' Analyses Economists have blamed both political and natural factors for the situation. “Bangladesh's July-August protests and the subsequent government fall disrupted the supply chain, which also affected global supply systems, leading to internal shortages,” said Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Government Efforts to Tackle Inflation Since taking power, the current government has implemented several measures aimed at controlling inflation, such as reducing import duties on essential goods like rice, potatoes, sugar, oil, and onions. The margin for opening letters of credit (LCs) for various imports has been halved, making imports easier. Additionally, market monitoring and surveillance of key players in the supply chain are being conducted. Pressure on Employees The CPD’s Moazzem observed that although the interim government’s statistics are more transparent and acceptable than before, the measures taken so far have lacked innovation. “These initiatives are similar to previous ones; I do not see anything particularly new. I am disappointed because I have not yet seen any dynamic initiative to manage inflation and the supply chain,” he said. Inflationary pressure is hitting salaried employees hard. Brunei offers to export 12-18 LNG cargoes annually to Bangladesh under 10-year contract Referring to Hiren Pandit, Moazzem noted that previously, 60–65% of his monthly income was spent on rent and food. Now, this figure has risen to 85–90%. “Everything I earn is being spent, and there is no savings anymore. Life has become almost unbearable for us,” Pandit said, adding, “Earlier, we would occasionally have fruits, but now that has stopped. Mutton, which we could afford once or twice a month, has also been cut.” Bank Rate Hike Since 2022, Bangladesh Bank has gradually raised interest rates to reduce demand and control inflation. In October 2024, the bank rate was increased to 10%. Moazzem believes that Bangladesh's agricultural market is "sensitive and political" because the supply system can place political pressure on the government. “Therefore, the government tends to act quickly and show results, but reforms in this market, driven by political motives, are unlikely to yield positive results,” he said. One of the proposed market reforms involves targeting five or six products for supply chain management improvements over a three-year period. “If these reforms are regularised, formalised and digitalised—so that all transactions are monitored—we will see results,” he said. “But we’ll have to wait for these results.”

A recent nationwide survey conducted by VOA Bangla reveals that 61.1% of Bangladeshis believe the next general election should be held within a year. But, a larger segment of the population (65.9%) advocates for completing all necessary reforms before proceeding with the election, indicating significant public support for thorough preparation over expediency. The survey, carried out by ORG-Quest Research Limited under VOA Bangla’s editorial guidance, gathered responses from 1,000 individuals aged 18 and above across Bangladesh’s eight divisions. Using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, participants were selected via random digit dialling (RDD), ensuring a representative sample. The survey, conducted between 13 and 27 October, has a margin of error of 3.1%. Diverse Opinions on Election Timing While a majority prefer elections within a year, 31.9% of respondents favour holding elections after only urgent electoral reforms are implemented. Meanwhile, 18.7% support elections within two to three years, and 8.6% believe polls should occur within 18 months. A minority of 5.8% want the elections postponed for four years or more. Interestingly, 4.6% of respondents expressed uncertainty about election timing, while 1.1% declined to answer. China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering to operate Bangladesh’s first single point mooring System The survey highlighted slight variations in preferences between urban and rural populations, with 60.4% of urban respondents and 61.4% of rural participants supporting elections within a year. Gender differences were also evident, as 65% of women preferred elections within a year compared to 57.3% of men. Support for Comprehensive Reforms A vast majority (65.9%) of respondents believe all necessary reforms identified by the interim government should be completed before the election. Among these reforms, key areas of focus include: Electoral Commission: Supported by 96.5% of respondents. Police Reforms: Supported by 92.3%. Judicial Reforms: Supported by 95.3%. Economic Sector Reforms: Backed by 96.4%. Constitutional Reforms: Favoured by 92.5%. Only 31.9% of respondents supported elections after addressing urgent election-related reforms. Perception of the Interim Government’s Performance The survey assessed public perception of the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, which took office on 8 August following the fall of the Awami League government. A majority (58.4%) believe the interim government is governing better than its predecessor, while 40.5% think it is performing either worse or similarly. UNICEF appoints 16-year-old Gargee as new youth advocate in Bangladesh  Among those critical of the interim government, 20.4% consider its governance worse, while 20.1% view it as similar to the Awami League administration. Urban residents (61.9%) and men (62%) were more likely to rate the interim government’s performance favourably than their rural (57.3%) and female (54.8%) counterparts. Public Safety and Law Enforcement Regarding law and order, 63.2% of respondents opined that the interim government is managing security better than the Awami League did. However, opinions on personal safety were evenly divided: 49.8% felt safer under the interim government, while 49.9% believed their safety had either declined or remained the same. The survey also found that 23% felt safer during the Awami League’s tenure, and 26.9% reported no change in their sense of security between the two administrations. Call for Election Roadmap The absence of a clear election roadmap has been a contentious issue. While political parties, civil society, and international stakeholders have urged the government to announce a timeline, the interim administration has prioritised reforms, emphasising their necessity for democratic consolidation. In a speech on 17 November marking the administration’s 100 days in office, Dr Yunus hinted that an election roadmap might follow once critical reforms are finalised. However, he acknowledged that delays might occur if essential changes require additional time. The political climate remains charged, with public opinion divided on balancing reform and election timelines. As debates intensify, the survey underscores the urgency of aligning electoral processes with public expectations and democratic integrity. Upcoming Reports VOA Bangla plans to release further detailed findings from the survey in subsequent reports, shedding more light on public attitudes toward governance, reforms, and elections in Bangladesh.