Ramadan Spending Dilemma

To every Muslim out there, Ramadan is always considered to be so much more than a month. It is that phase of the year where each Muslim tries to rectify themselves, learn new habits and unlearn old ones. It is a month where Muslims gladly work for the pleasure of the Almighty. However, as the calendar marks each day of Ramadan, the zest of festivity is spreading all over the country.

Muslims of all ages and genders have started sorting their carts to look their best on the joyous day of Eid since, religiously, to wear one’s best or new clothes on the day is considered a sunnah. As more days pass and Eid approaches, the most trending topic of conversation between individuals is whether one has bought their Eid dress, and if so, how much it has cost. As disturbing as it sounds. The more one’s Eid dress costs, the more they are glorified in their social circle. Hence, under certain circumstances, young individuals may force their family members to provide them with a higher Eid budget or compel them to purchase clothes from high-end brands. Under these situations, the breadwinners of the families face major mental distress and suffering.
Riding on this trend and thus high demand for new clothes, some businessmen have a tendency to make unjustified profit. According to Teribazar wholesalers’ and TBS retail reports, the average cost of a panjabi ranges from Tk1500 to Tk4000, whereas a three-piece costs Tk2500 to Tk6000. This is the minimum range of costs that an individual of a middle-class family would need to spend. Brands like Aarong, Blucheez, Sailor, Yellow, etc., have decided to range their clothes starting from Tk3000, and it goes up to Tk12000.
On the other hand, according to the report of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the inflation rate for food has gone up to 8.29%. The average food cost for an individual starts from Tk8000 and goes up to Tk12000. This budget is the minimum for anyone who is planning to have balanced three-square meals that include eggs, chicken or beef. People having a lower income often cut the menu to maintain their family.
This actually exposes the huge inequality in our society, where some people spend high amounts for luxury (to maintain the invisible standards that society has set) for what others spend for basic necessity.
It would be quite easy and simple to blame the abstract concepts like capitalism, materialism and consumerism. Yet, beneath these surface-level explanations, a deeper, more unsettling question lingers: Are we merely compromising our own morals and conscience, or are we actively raising an entire generation that is losing its sense of integrity, gratefulness and gratitude?