Survey finds 84pc people severely affected by commodity price hikes

Around 84 per cent of respondents of a survey say the recent commodity price hike severely affected their lives.

Besides, 13 per cent it has somewhat affected their lives.

Asked if the recent fuel price hike affected their lives, 81 per cent said their lives are severely affected, and 15 per cent are somewhat affected.

The study has been conducted jointly by The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh, and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, Brac University, reports bdnews24.com.

It sheds light on Bangladeshi citizens’ perceptions regarding the political, economic, and social atmosphere of the country.

The survey titled “The State of Bangladesh’s Political, Governance, Development and Society” collected data from 10,240 adult men and women, across all 64 districts, during the period between November 2022 and January 2023.

More than half, 62 per cent, said the increased electricity production and nationwide electrification is the most important success, while 19 per cent say it is an important positive event.

A similar percentage say the government’s vaccination drive was very successful.

The Padma Bridge was identified as the important success of Bangladesh by 72 per cent of the respondents, and 20 per cent identified it as an important positive event, 4 per cent are concerned about its cost or implementation, 3 per cent are concerned about the benefit compared to the cost.

Nearly half or 47 per cent credit the bridge’s construction to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while 28 per cent credit the Bangladesh government.

When asked if they can think of any benefit the bridge may bring, 89 per cent responded affirmatively.

Just under half or 48 per cent say Bangladesh is heading in the wrong direction politically, an increase from 31 per cent in 2019.

More than one-third or 39 per cent say the country is heading in the right direction politically, a decrease from 64 per cent in 2019.

The proportion of respondents who believe Bangladesh is moving in the right direction socially dropped from 77 per cent in 2019 to 58 per cent in 2022, a decrease of 19 percentage points.

From an economic perspective, 70 per cent of respondents in 2019 thought the country was heading in the right direction. However, this dropped to 25 per cent in 2022.