Desk Report,
88% of low-income people in the country eat bread and biscuits once a day
88 percent of the country’s low-income people eat bread and biscuits at least once a day. Among those earning 10,000 to 15,000 taka per month, 60 percent skip breakfast due to lack of time and high prices.
88% of low-income people in the country eat bread and biscuits once a day
This information has emerged from a survey by the Youth Policy Network. The survey was conducted on 1,022 people from 15 places in the country. The data from this survey conducted in March this year says that 99 percent of the respondents are forced to skip heavy meals at some point or the other. They eat bread or banana biscuits as an alternative. Especially, they have to skip lunch or afternoon meals a lot.

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88% of low-income people in the country eat bread and biscuits at least once a day
Own Reporter
Dhaka
Updated: 27 June 2025, 12:12
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Guests attending the seminar titled ‘Food Security and VAT for Marginalized Populations’ organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and the Youth Policy Network. Yesterday at the ERF auditorium in Paltan, the capital. Photo: Prothom Alo
88 percent of low-income people in the country eat bread and biscuits at least once a day. 60 percent of people with a monthly income of 10,000 to 15,000 taka skip breakfast due to lack of time and high prices.
This information has emerged in a survey by the Youth Policy Network. The survey was conducted on 1,022 people from 15 places in the country. The data from this survey conducted in March this year shows that 99 percent of respondents are forced to skip heavy meals at some point or the other. As an alternative, they eat bread or banana-biscuits. Especially, they have to skip lunch or afternoon meals a lot.
The information from this study was presented at a seminar titled ‘Food Security and VAT of Marginalized Populations’ organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and the Youth Policy Network. The seminar was organized at the ERF auditorium in Paltan, the capital, on Thursday.
NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan was the chief guest at the event. The seminar was moderated by the organization’s General Secretary Abul Kashem. ERF President Daulat Akhtar Mala delivered the welcome speech. Bangladesh Biscuit and Bread Association President Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan and Prothom Alo Assistant News Editor Partha Shankar Saha were also present at the time.
Imrul Hasan, Head of Research at Youth Policy Network, while presenting the main paper at the seminar, said, “Inflation in the country is still more than 9 percent and there is youth unemployment and income inequality. In the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, VAT on biscuits and bread has been increased from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. As a result, low-income people, including students, are having to eat these products at higher prices. 70 percent of the low-income group expected that visible steps would be taken in this budget to tax these products. However, no such steps have been taken in this regard.”
