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Like devotees in the rest of the world, the Muslims in Bangladesh have also started observing the holy month of Ramadan amidst high inflation. Sudden price spurt here is, however, not unusual in this month. Previous years' newspaper headlines such as 'Commodity prices surge ahead of Ramadan,' 'Ramadan prices see sharp rise', 'Govt move fails to check price hike ahead of Ramadan,' may well replace this year's. People are also not found wanting in making their sentiment known to this profiteering mentality of traders.
A blame game, as in the past years, is also there. The consumers blame the government for failing to curb commodity prices. They also blame the traders for manipulating prices through syndication. Traders blame each other - retailers accuse wholesalers of overpricing, and wholesalers point fingers at importers and producers. Importers claim that the rise in the cost of transport and supply forces them to increase prices. Traders also allege that extortion by various parties is responsible for price hikes in many cases. The authorities ritualistically assert that drastic action will be taken against those responsible for price hikes during Ramadan but to no avail. Some of them go as far as suggesting formulas for changing food habits, like taking local fruit instead of date in the iftar when Muslims break their daylong fast. All these make a recipe for chaos and confusion and sometimes a comedy of error during the Ramadan which is about self-restraint, sacrifice, devotion, forgiveness and caring.
The country's mismanaged and wrongly designed public transport system, especially in Dhaka, is another primary source of chaos. The regular poor traffic on roads and streets turn particularly atrocious during Ramadan, forcing people to spend hours together in tailbacks. Many fail to arrive home on time to break fast with members of their families
Over the years, this dismal situation has prevailed, notwithstanding new roads and flyovers. Except for the newly launched metro rail service in Dhaka that runs overhead, roads in the capital city are congested with a growing number of transports like human-paddled rickshaws, battery-run three-wheelers, motorcycles, battery-driven two-wheelers, and also private cars. The traffic police seem helpless in controlling these vehicles on roads barring a few VIP roads off-limit to those. Public buses are ramshackle and dirty offering nightmarish service. Thus, the endemic woes of commuters increase manifold during Ramadan.
The occupation of footpaths and street sides by makeshift vendors also adds to the chaos during Ramadan, thanks to the nexus between a section of members of law enforcement agencies and local political leaders and activists. In exchange for illegal tolls, they provide public spaces for illegal makeshift trade, causing much trouble to pedestrians. People from different parts of the country come to Dhaka during Ramadan to do some work and trade. Most of them are involved in these activities. Thus, the city faces additional demographic pressure during the holy month, making things difficult.
The makeshift iftar-selling outlets on footpaths and street-sides are another feature of chaotic Ramadan, where hygiene and safety are almost absent. Even after the Bailey Road fire tragedy that claimed 46 lives on February 29 and March 1, it seems that traders care little about the risk of using gas cylinders. Burning cooking oil on open streets is dangerous.
Fasting during Ramadan involves controlling not only food and drink intake but also hearing, visualising, feeling, thinking, and talking. It is the restraint in behaviour and attitude that matters most. Failure to uphold the core spirits of Ramadan only enhances the chaos.