Will the Country Ever Find Peace? Dhaka’s Daily Life Shrouded in Fear and Despair

From the narrow alleyways to the city’s main thoroughfares, one question echoes across Dhaka: Will the country ever be at peace? The everyday lives of ordinary people are being suffocated by economic hardship, insecurity, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty about the future. For many, survival itself has become a battle.

Amid rising political instability and relentless inflation, the boundaries of urban life are shrinking day by day. Though the government continues to speak in the language of development, the reality faced by its citizens tells a starkly different story.

Rickshaw puller Ruhul Amin shared his plight:

“I used to earn 800 to 1,000 taka a day, now I don’t even make 500. Prices of daily essentials keep going up. The market feels unbearable, and the rickshaw owner has raised the rent. I pedal from morning till night, but there’s no rice at home. Is this what freedom looks like?”

Tahmina Rahman, a student at the University of Dhaka, expressed her frustration:

“Job opportunities are scarce, and without a bribe, getting a government job is nearly impossible. Private jobs come with no security and little respect. Despite our education, we feel utterly undervalued.”

At Hatirjheel, tea vendor Zakir Hossain lamented the sharp decline in sales:

“I used to sell goods worth 2,000–3,000 taka a day. Now, there are barely any customers. Electricity bills are rising, and so is shop rent. The government only wants taxes, but never understands our struggles.”

In Rampura, housewife Halima Begum spoke with fear in her voice:

“Any sound at night terrifies me. I look at my young children and my heart trembles. I go to the market and return after crossing items off the list—everything is too expensive. Even in the city, there’s no peace.”

Today, every corner of Dhaka feels heavy with uncertainty, fear, and simmering anger. Some yearn for a secure job, others simply wish for a peaceful night’s sleep.

And yet, the same question lingers on everyone’s lips: Is this country only for the rich? Will ordinary people ever be able to breathe in peace?

Thus, the daily life of Dhaka has become a solemn testament to a painful reality—where there are no dreams left, only the unrelenting struggle to survive.