'We don’t get to eat chicken even once in six months'

"Even water is not free in Dhaka city. If the water faucet in the house breaks down, we have to go without water for a few days," said Ramprasad, a 46-year-old cobbler, who has been working on the side of Dhaka's busy roads for nearly 29 years. 

Currently, Ramprasad can be seen sitting at the corner of Birdem General Hospital's gate in the capital's Shahbagh area, sewing shoes from morning to night.  After a full day's work, he earns a maximum of Tk500 to Tk800.

He lives with his mother, wife, and two children in a rented room in the capital's Gopibagh. The rent for the room is Tk6,000 and he is the sole breadwinner of the family.

Compared to six or seven years ago, his daily income has increased by a few hundred taka. But his life is more difficult now than before. Some days he and his family have to go without food. 

"In the past, my income may have been less, but I was doing well then. Things were cheap, I could buy lots of things," Ramprasad said.

Referring to the skyrocketing prices of all essential commodities, he said, "We don't get to eat poultry chicken meat even once in six months and can't even think about mutton. We can't even afford Pangas and Tilapia fish, which were the cheapest food that the poor used to eat. 

"There is no way to buy eggs for the children. Vegetables are also skyrocketing in price. As we cannot afford the good ones, we have to buy the potatoes and other vegetables that are kept separate as waste."

Ramprasad's mother is sick and his wife very weak too. Ramprasad himself is suffering from heart disease but he does not have the courage to get treatment. 

As he works in front of a hospital, he can easily see a doctor. But he cannot afford the physical examination, tests, and medication. So he has to survive by ignoring his body's needs.

Ramprasad, who came to Dhaka from Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district three decades ago in search of a livelihood, is struggling to pay off the debt he incurred for the weddings of his two older daughters. He now owes over Tk3.5 lakh and spends each day worrying about how he will be able to eat the next day.