After paying rent, food, rickshaw-puller Dulal is left with Tk50

"I've been pulling a rickshaw since when the deposit fee was Tk20. Now I have to pay Tk70 to rent the rickshaw for a shift, costing me Tk140 for two shifts. And there are other costs as well," said rickshaw puller Dulal Sheikh, who has been making a living by pulling rickshaw in the alleys of Dhaka city for the past 33 years.

In the past 33 years, Dulal has seen many ups and downs in Dhaka. He has struggled many times to keep up with the rising cost of living in the city. The cost of essential food and the cost of living have both increased significantly in recent years. The latest food inflation is making it difficult for him to cope.

Dulal Sheikh does not understand what food inflation is, but he understands that the price of food has increased. He sighs and says, "The prices of fish, potatoes, and eggs have gone up a lot."

In the early 1990s, Dulal Sheikh came to Dhaka in search of work. He had no formal education, having only completed primary school. He had helped his father with farm work in Jamalpur, but that had not been enough to support the family. So, he was forced to come to Dhaka to make a living.

Over the past 33 years, Dulal Sheikh's life has changed a lot. His family has grown, and his hair and beard have turned grey. But his income has not kept up with the rising cost of living. He is struggling to make ends meet.

Dulal Sheikh currently lives alone in Dhaka. He rents a room in Dhaka's Tejgaon area. His wife, children, and other family members live in Jamalpur.

Even though Dulal Sheikh earns Tk12,000-Tk13,000 per month by driving a rickshaw, his expenses are divided into two parts. He keeps Tk4,000 for himself and sends the rest to his family in the village.

When asked about how he spends the Tk4,000 in Dhaka, Dulal said, "I pay for rent, food, and the cost of taking a shower. I spend Tk450 per month on taking a shower, Tk3,000 on food, and Tk500 on rent. That leaves me with Tk50 only."

This means that Dulal spends Tk100 per day on lunch and dinner. He usually has tea and toast for breakfast, which costs him Tk20-25 per day. He also has to pay Tk15 per day for taking a shower and Tk16.67 per day for rent.

In total, Dulal spends Tk150-160 per day on food, shelter, and bathing. If he drives his rickshaw for one shift, he has to add another Tk70 to his expenses. If he drives for two shifts, he has to add another Tk140.

Although Dulal's expenses are fixed on a daily basis, his income is not. If he is sick, he cannot work. On those days, he does not earn any money, but his expenses remain the same.

In his 33 years as a rickshaw puller, the rickshaw fare has increased many times, but Dulal's income has not. In fact, his expenses have been rising at a faster rate. He often argues with passengers over the fare. In addition, the number of rickshaw pullers in the city has increased. Dulal is facing competition and other challenges every day.

Dulal's family often complains about the lack of money. He recently married off his daughter, so he also has to take care of her in-laws as well.

Dulal has also come up with a way to cope with the rising cost of living. He said, "This year, I bought potatoes for Tk50 per kg. But I will never make that mistake again. How can I avoid it? Next season, I will buy 20kg, 40kg, or even a maund of potatoes and store them at home."

In response to the question, "If you buy too many potatoes, they might spoil." Dulal laughed and answered, "If I store potatoes on dry sand under my bed, they will not spoil."