SLC-S29/W3-“Thinking and Ideas!| Seeing Problems Differently!”
Identify one everyday problem in your community or country and explain some steps in solving them
One everyday problem that I notice most in Bangladesh is the Accommodation Problem. This issue is especially serious for those of us who live in urban areas. Finding a suitable place to live has become a major source of stress for many people.
People move from villages to cities in search of education, jobs, and a better quality of life, but the availability of housing does not match this growing demand. In cities like Dhaka, finding even a small apartment means facing high rent, large advance payments, and many unnecessary conditions set by house owners.
I personally experienced this when I visited one of my friends’ apartments. I was shocked after hearing the rent. The apartment had only one large bedroom, a small dining space, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a very small balcony, yet the monthly rent was around 82.52 USD+. For such a small living space, this amount feels completely unreasonable.
In my opinion, several practical steps are necessary to solve this problem. A planned urban development is essential. New residential areas should be developed both inside cities and in nearby suburban areas.
The government and private sectors should work together to introduce low-cost housing projects so that middle-class and lower-income people can afford decent homes.
At the same time, regular monitoring of house rent and proper enforcement of rental laws are extremely important, because charging such high rent for small apartments is clearly unjustified.
Why do you think this problem still exists despite many people noticing it?
I believe this problem still exists mainly due to poor management and a lack of effective initiatives. Although people are aware that rent is too high, long-term solutions are rarely implemented.
Everyone complains that rent is expensive, yet most of us continue paying high rent because we have no better options. It is not even true that fewer people live in high-rent areas, many people still stay there. This is why I think we should raise our voices collectively so that rental prices can come down.
In many cases, housing is viewed only as a business, while the human aspect is ignored. Moreover, the continuous flow of people moving to cities without proper planning has increased pressure on the housing system.
In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood part of this problem?
In my opinion, there are several misunderstood aspects of this issue. For example, an educated person naturally wants to live in a decent and comfortable home, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, this mindset also needs some balance and adjustment.
Another common misconception is that the accommodation problem affects only poor people. In reality, it has become a serious burden for the middle class as well. Many salaried workers are forced to spend a large portion of their income just on rent.
After covering rent and family expenses, saving money becomes almost impossible, making it difficult to plan for the future or ensure a better life for the family. Sadly, this reality often remains outside public discussion.
If you could change one mindset related to this issue, what would it be?
If I could change one mindset related to this issue, I would want people to see housing as a basic human right, not just a business opportunity.
I would also like to share another incident that made me realize how serious this problem really is. Just yesterday, I visited an uncle’s house, which was actually a government-provided family residence. Naturally, I expected the rent to be reasonable. However, I was shocked to learn that the monthly rent of that house was around 181.55 USD.
Considering the structure and facilities of the house, the rent should never be this high. There was nothing special about the building or its layout that could justify such an amount. This experience clearly showed me that even government housing is not free from the unfair rental system.
From this incident, I strongly realized that house rent in Bangladesh has become a massive business, rather than a system meant to support people’s basic living needs. When even government residences are rented out at such unreasonable prices, it becomes extremely difficult for ordinary people to find affordable housing.
Providing a safe and respectful place to live should be a shared responsibility of society. If house owners and policymakers develop a more humane perspective, this problem can gradually be reduced.
Business can exist in the housing sector, but it should not ignore human values. House owners should set rent at a level that considers public benefit and fairness.
In conclusion, the accommodation problem is not just a personal issue, it is a social one. Therefore, the solution must come through combined awareness, responsibility, and proper planning from both the government and the people.
I am inviting @lirvic, @jyoti-thelight & @sualeha to take part in the contest.