The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Rakib Uddin

The beginning of the holy month of Ramadhan has been featured by the two remarkable developments in Bangladesh, the second largest Muslim country in the world - deep love, emotion and devotion for the religious faith and practice on the one hand and unthinkable abnormal prices of the essential commodities particularly Iftari items on the other hand .One is natural, usual and traditional and the another unimaginable and terrible.

The holy Ramdhan is a month of austerity, fasting and special prayers for the Muslims all over the world, seeking divine blessings for the emancipation of the world and the world hereafter.The Muslims of Bangladesh observe the holy month practicing the dictates of Islam as prescribed in the holy Quran expressing their solidarity with Muslims of the entire world .It needs sound economic facilities and peaceful social and political orders to help the Muslims of the country observe the month of Ramadhan properly through carrying out tenets and teachings of Islam which resolutely stands for peace, happiness and justice in a complete code of life. But it is an irony of fate the Muslims of the country now is deprived of an atmosphere conducive to practicing the principles and the directives the holy month asks to do because of certain man made unwanted developments. The markets are being controlled by unscrupulous elements, smugglers, hoarders and profiteers and also handled by inefficient hands ..

Observers believe the unwanted situation is the outcome of the wrong handle of the country's entire economy .

Focus on certain Itfari bazaars and a section of the kitchen markets in the capital does not reflect the true [picture of how the common people and the middle class already hard hit by soaring prices of the essentials who constitute the 95 percent of the country's total population have been observing the month of Ramadhan. Showing thumbs to the steps mainly taken by the officials and by the private sectors recently prices of the essential commodities resume to continue to rise unabated .The situation is this-" the more is said to control the price ,the price rises more and more". . None could say where the termination of the race lies .

Colorful Iftari bazars in different places of the capital including Chawk Bazar, Hossaini Dalan, Nazira Bazar and Bangshal where items are attractively displayed are nothing but the tradition and heritage of Dhaka .It has been old as old is Dhaka founded by the then Mughal viceroy Islam Khan in 1608. No quarter or authority other than tradition and heritage of the historical city could claim the credit for the lucrative iftari Bazars .Display of the traditional markets does not offer any concrete proofs of improving economic conditions of the city dwellers as a whole.

Despite their economic hardships that knows no bounds of the people across the country except a few number of well to do affluent, have been observing the holy Ramdhan only because of their love and unbreakable faith in their religion. This does not mean that they are well facilitated in performing their religious rites and festivals. They under any circumstances continue to practice their religion and hoist its flags at any cost

The observers also feel the political commotions now obtaining in the country, absence of perfect law and order situation in the society and sky rocketing prices of the commodities seldom offer opportunities to any Rozader to observe fasting and practicing other religious rites in a befitting manner.

Kids, relatives, well wishers, admirers and supporters of those now behind the bar look forward to observing the remaining days of the holy Ramadhahn and the Eid- Ul Fitr with their nearest and dearest ones.