Rising commodity prices will increase malnutrition | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Rising commodity prices will increase malnutrition

Supplement

Dr Khursheed Jahan
02 February, 2023, 11:45 am
Last modified: 02 February, 2023, 11:47 am

Related News

  • Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition
  • When parents fall ill, children suffer: The hidden cost of health shocks in Bangladesh
  • Why bone broth deserves a spot in your daily diet
  • Azuki: Banani’s new sushi café
  • Onion prices surge despite harvest season; chicken prices drop

Rising commodity prices will increase malnutrition

An increase in the price of goods means a decrease in the purchasing power of people. When a person’s purchasing power decreases, they can no longer afford quality food

Dr Khursheed Jahan
02 February, 2023, 11:45 am
Last modified: 02 February, 2023, 11:47 am
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

Despite the improvement in various indicators of the health sector, Bangladesh is still far behind in achieving the desired targets in the nutrition sector. A large portion of children, women, and elderly people in the country are still suffering from malnutrition. 

Despite the fact that the rate of malnutrition in our country has decreased over the last decade as a result of numerous interventional programmes, there is still nutritional deficiency. Nonetheless, the proportion of under-5 children with low height for age or stunting is 31%, the proportion of underweight children is 22%, and the anaemia rate is more than 30%.

The level of malnutrition has increased during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, due to an increase in commodity prices, people's food patterns are changing, the amount is decreasing, and as a result, the nutritional situation will worsen. Malnutrition will now increase as much as it has decreased.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

An increase in the price of goods means a decrease in the purchasing power of people. When a person's purchasing power decreases, he can no longer afford quality food. They will eat those that are cheap but have low nutritional value.

If a child is not fed according to its requirements, then that child will not grow up healthy. His intelligence will decrease, his class performance will decrease, and he will not be able to concentrate properly in school. There will be many such things. He may also have a chronic deficiency disorder.

A child should consume animal proteins such as eggs and milk on a daily basis. Plant protein is good, but plant protein cannot be utilised by the human body as much as animal protein. Now the price of meat is very high. Even middle-class families are unable to purchase meat now. Poor people may eat pulses instead of meat. But the price of lentils has also increased.

I have also heard that people are giving milk to small children but adding water to increase the amount due to a surge in commodity prices. But by eating this milk, the child will not get calcium and other nutrients as per the requirement. In this way, there is a shortage of essential food for children. Instead of milk and eggs, babies may be fed more rice or sugary foods.

Earlier, lentils were known as the protein of the poor, but now the price of that lentil has also increased. Low and middle-income people are deprived of essential proteins and nutrition due to an increase in commodity prices. If the price is not reduced, people will reduce their consumption of items from which protein and fat are obtained. This will have a long-term impact on our entire society. On the one hand, due to malnutrition, various physical problems will increase and performance will also decrease.

Malnutrition can also have an impact on adults' productivity. A healthy adult requires approximately 2,100 calories per day. If a person does not get the necessary protein, vitamins, and nutrition, it affects his work. Every person has calorie and protein requirements based on age, height, and physical activity.

If a working person cannot eat as per his requirements, he cannot work according to his capacity.

To get rid of this situation, the government should take initiative in controlling the price of products. Strict measures should be taken so that prices do not increase in the upcoming Ramadan.

Furthermore, there are some foods that are nutritious even at low prices. The people should be made aware that they should eat those foods. Eating native fruits, green vegetables, and small fish also reduces the nutritional deficiency somewhat. Babies under six months old should be breastfed.


The author is a renowned nutritionist and honorary professor of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka

Health

malnutrition / food / Commodity Price Hike

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Leaders and activists of BNP gather at Nayapaltan ahead of the rally of three BNP affiliated organisations on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Start preparing to ensure election is held within December: Tarique issues instructions at youth rally
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Bangladeshi cos expecting increased costs due to tariffs, yet extremely optimistic about int'l growth: HSBC survey
  • former Japanese prime minister and Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League President Taro Aso meets Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the bilateral meeting room of the Imperial Hotel in Japan's Tokyo on 28 May 2025. Photo; PID
    Election in Bangladesh by June next year, Yunus tells Japan's Taro Aso

MOST VIEWED

  • Google Pay. Photo: Collected
    Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Representational image of cable car/Freepik
    Cable car to be installed from Himchari to Reju Khal in Marine Drive Road
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • IFIC Bank receives Tk6,000 cr in new deposits in six months
    IFIC Bank receives Tk6,000 cr in new deposits in six months
  • Abdul Awal Mintoo, chairman of National Bank Limited. Sketch: TBS
    'Regulatory support must for National Bank to restore depositors' confidence'

Related News

  • Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition
  • When parents fall ill, children suffer: The hidden cost of health shocks in Bangladesh
  • Why bone broth deserves a spot in your daily diet
  • Azuki: Banani’s new sushi café
  • Onion prices surge despite harvest season; chicken prices drop

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

3d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

39m | TBS Programs
Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

1h | TBS Insight
Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

2h | TBS World
Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

3h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net