In Karwan Bazar in Dhaka, the atmosphere thickens with heat and haggling by late afternoon. As they wait for customers who are taking longer than usual to make a decision, vendors lean forward over wooden tables with their hands resting on pyramids of eggplants and green chilies. Reluctance may reveal more about the political climate of the nation than any speech ever could.
because food prices are political in Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman has found that truth in the markets, quietly but firmly, just days after he took office. Food accounts for a large portion of the pressure on inflation, which hit its highest level in months in January 2026 at 8.58 percent. The staples—rice, oil, and sugar—have become erratic. And governments that are unpredictable tend to have unpredictable foundations.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Tarique Rahman |
| Position | Prime Minister of Bangladesh |
| Age | 60 |
| Took Office | February 2026 |
| Political Party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) |
| Key Economic Issue | Food Inflation at 8.58% |
| Staple Foods Affected | Rice, edible oil, sugar, lentils |
| Immediate Priority | Stabilizing food prices during Ramadan |
| Economic Context | IMF-linked reforms, rising public debt |
| Reference | https://www.thedailystar.net |
Rahman seems to have an innate understanding of this. In his first national address, he avoided discussing history or ideology. He discussed Ramadan. During a holy month when household budgets are already stretched thin, he cautioned traders against taking advantage of people. When I watched that speech, it seemed more like an early defensive maneuver than a political debut.
Because everything changes during Ramadan.
Evening markets swell before sunset in areas like Mirpur and Old Dhaka, with lanterns flickering over sacks of lentils and piles of dates. Families come prepared with their mental budgets. While standing in front of a row of cooking oil bottles, one woman picked one up, replaced it, and turned to leave. It’s difficult to ignore the significant political impact of seemingly insignificant events like that. Here, governments have collapsed before for less.
Expectations of instant relief were raised by Rahman’s resounding election victory, but relief is hard to produce fast. Economists frequently note that political pledges have little effect on food inflation. Supply chains are brittle. The pressure on currency reserves is still present. Additionally, national optimism tends to be ignored by global commodity prices.
Rahman has, however, pledged to destroy what he refers to as market syndicates, organizations that are alleged to manipulate supply in order to drive up prices. The assertion strikes a chord with common Bangladeshis, many of whom already suspect that invisible forces are influencing the price of their food. But whether or not those syndicates can be dismantled is a different matter.
It can be more difficult to challenge market power than parliamentary power.
Behind the scenes, everything is complicated by Bangladesh’s larger economic situation. Tight spending and controlled borrowing are expected reforms because the nation is still bound by an International Monetary Fund program. In the short term, those policies don’t always result in lower food prices, but they might stabilize the economy over time. On occasion, they act in the opposite way.
It’s still unclear if Rahman’s administration will put long-term stability or quick price relief first.
Sweat-darkened shirts of workers unloading fifty-kilogram sacks from trucks were visible as they walked through a rice wholesale market close to the Buriganga River. Although business was steady, there was a tinge of conversation. Aware that the new government was listening, traders spoke with caution. When questioned about prices, one vendor shrugged. “The supply determines everything,” he stated. It sounded easy. Seldom is it. Bangladesh’s food inflation is more than just an economic issue. It has to do with trust.
After years of political upheaval, investors appear to think Rahman’s administration could bring stability. However, bond yields and foreign reserves are not used by the general public to gauge stability. They use grocery bills as a gauge. The distance that a kilogram of rice can travel. via if a family can afford to buy meat even once a week.
When food prices increased too quickly, Bangladesh’s former leaders—including well-liked and influential ones—faced waves of annoyance. As it happens, political allegiance rapidly erodes when food is uncertain. Rahman seems to be aware of this. His early attention to food prices indicates that he is aware of the point at which his political survival may be determined.
Deeper reforms are being planned by his government in the interim, including enhancing transportation systems, bolstering law enforcement, and restoring investor confidence. Over time, those policies might change the economy. However, most households do not have the luxury of years.
Recently, a shopkeeper at a small grocery store in Dhanmondi rearranged the shelves of lentils, carefully placing them apart to make them appear plentiful. Consumers entered, inquired about prices, and then discreetly departed. As this happened, it became evident that food inflation is more than just a figure. It’s an attitude. A strain.
Governments can also be changed by moods. Rahman gained power after his victory. But how long he keeps it might depend on the cost of food.
