Inflation Surges Again In Bangladesh, Reaching 9.86% In January

The inflation rate in Bangladesh has once again surged, reaching 9.86% in January, marking a significant increase since October.

According to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) yesterday night (February 15), the overall inflation rate stood at 9.93% in October last year. It decreased in November and December but rose again in January, affecting both urban and rural areas. In rural areas, inflation was 9.70% in January, while in urban areas, it was 9.99%. This indicates that inflation was higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

According to the latest calculations by the BBS, food inflation slightly decreased in January. However, non-food inflation witnessed a considerable increase. In the past month, food inflation stood at 9.56%, slightly lower than December's 9.58%. On the other hand, non-food inflation surged to 9.42%, up from December's 8.52%.

It's noteworthy that inflation, a type of tax that affects everyone regardless of their economic status, has led to an increase in the cost of living, particularly burdening low and middle-income households. Rising prices of essential commodities have contributed to this upward trend in inflation.

At the highest levels of government, it is being stated that measures will be taken promptly to control inflation. In pursuit of this goal, Bangladesh Bank increased the repo rate on January 17. Furthermore, commercial banks have also seen an increase in lending rates. However, despite these efforts, inflation continues to rise.