The Plight of Middle Classes during Corona

The middle-class citizens in the country are the worst victims of this emerging coronavirus pandemic because they have nothing to do except remain idle and trapped in their homes.

On the other side, they always run the risk of losing their jobs and of remaining unemployed for as long as they know nothing about it.

This section of people belongs to individuals and households who fall inside the social continuum between the middle class and the upper class. The community is known to be the cornerstone of every economy.

In Bangladesh, the middle class fails to make all ends meet in this condition because they stay unpaid owing to the general holidays. However, the companies, on the other side, see a price spike

Social scientists and right-wing activists also found out that middle-class individuals can not pursue redress in the light of the racial stigma, as other organizations rely exclusively on the disadvantaged.

According to a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), about 40 million citizens are in the middle class of the country and the figure is growing by 15% annually.

According to Boston Consulting Group, the number of middle-class people in Bangladesh is 15 million and 2 million people get on board with the status annually.

Tarikul Islam, a mid-level worker at the sales department of a private company, is living with his family in Jatrabari in the capital. He is now uncertain about his job.

“I don’t know what will happen after the general holidays. The living cost is increasing due to the market price hike. I don’t know how I will survive,” Tarikul shared his sorrow tale while talking to daily sun on Friday.

During the general holidays, most of the middle-class people are out of work as they are at risk of being included in the socially vulnerable group.

The BRAC Institute of Governance and Development has recently released a study report on the effect of COVID on livelihoods in collaboration with the Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC) where the researcher forecasts the potential displacement of middle classes from their social status as leaders of a disadvantaged community.

Regarding the sufferings and social impact on the middle class, Brac Chairperson Prof Hossain Zillur Rahman mentioned that this class of people is a kind of worse sufferer as they can’t stand for relief due to social dignity.

The government has launched special open market sale (OMS) of rice at Tk10 per kilogram across the country in a bid to ensure food for relatively poor people during the general holidays.

“We suggest that the authorities continue the OMS service to feed the middle class as they do not feel shy to buy the food items. It’s important for the government to manage the situation,” Prof Hossain Zillur Rahman told daily sun on Friday.

The renowned economist also pointed out that the government would concentrate further on the inclusion of the middle class in the social security system since they are most at risk of being insecure.

Prof. Sadeka Halim, Dean of Social Science at Dhaka University, claims that the coronary pandemic would have a detrimental effect on middle-class citizens who are perceived to be the labor force in every economy.

"The sufferings of the vulnerable are clear to us and there are several steps to help them in the case of an emergency. However, the state of the middle class remains unheard of throughout this crisis, "said Prof Sadeka.

She also stated that the economic effect on the middle class is more complicated than the psychosocial position of an adult belonging to the middle class.