Before sending their children to school, parents have to put some essential educational supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers and geometry boxes in their bags alongside books. But prices of such items have risen so sharply in recent years that, for many families, the cost of their children’s education is no longer limited to school fees, clothing or transport. Even small necessities such as notebooks and pens are adding to monthly household expenses.
The rising cost of living has also affected the market for paper and stationery products. Prices of various types of notebooks, paper, pens and geometry boxes have increased significantly over the past few years. In some cases, the prices of products have risen directly, while in others, manufacturers have reduced the size or quantity of products without changing their prices. Middle- and lower-income families are consequently bearing the greatest burden when buying essential educational supplies for their children. This picture emerged from visits to several stationery shops in the capital and different districts.
A 124-page notebook is currently selling for BDT 50 in the Jashore market, while the same type of notebook cost around BDT 35 four years ago, meaning its price has increased by about 43 percent over the period. There has also been a significant change in the price of 300-page notebooks. A notebook that sold for BDT 65 four years ago was priced at BDT 100 a year ago, and is now selling for BDT 110–115. Besides, a 160-page notebook currently costs BDT 60, while a 204-page notebook costs BDT 80.
The same trend is evident in the capital’s market. At Nijhum Computer and Stationery in Karwan Bazar, 84-page notebooks are selling for BDT 35, 104-page notebooks for BDT 55 and 200-page notebooks for BDT 80. A dista (24 sheets) of paper costs BDT 40.
Parents say notebooks are among the stationery items most frequently used by students in their daily studies. A student needs different types of notebooks throughout an academic year. Even a small increase of a few taka in the price of each notebook can consequently have a significant impact on a family’s total education expenses by the end of the year.
The price of writing paper has also increased. In Jashore, a 500-sheet pack of A4-sized 70 GSM paper is selling for BDT 330, and 80 GSM paper is BDT 400. According to traders, these types of paper were, on average, about BDT 100 cheaper even a year ago. In Dhaka’s market, a 500-sheet pack of 65–70 GSM paper is selling for around BDT 350.
Mohammad Monir Hossain, proprietor of Nijhum Computer and Stationery in Karwan Bazar, has been in the business for nearly two decades. He told Bonik Barta: “A few years ago, paper prices were almost half of what they are now. The prices started rising after the Covid-19 pandemic. And the impact of higher paper prices isn’t limited to notebook production. Various ancillary expenses for students, including photocopying and printing, are also increasing as a result.”
Pen prices have also risen in the stationery market. A dozen pens that used to be available in the wholesale market for BDT 45 now cost BDT 50, while pens sold at BDT 50 a dozen now cost BDT 55. In the retail market, these pens cost BDT 5–6 each. The wholesale price of a dozen pens that retail for BDT 10 has also risen from BDT 100 to BDT 110. Meanwhile, BDT 5 pencils have almost disappeared from the market. The wholesale price of BDT 10 pencils has also increased.
A similar price trend can be seen at Bismillah Enterprise in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Riaz Hossain, owner of the shop, told Bonik Barta: “Everything has become more expensive in the market. We also have to buy products from wholesalers at higher prices. So we have no choice but to sell them at higher prices.”
Another notable change in the stationery market is that the prices of all products are not increasing directly. Although some products are still priced at BDT 5 or BDT 10 as before, their size and quantity are being reduced. Erasers are the most visible example. Erasers priced at BDT 5 or BDT 10 are still available, but in many cases they have become considerably smaller than before. In other words, customers are getting less product for the same amount of money.
Such changes are not directly reflected in price lists, but they increase families’ actual expenses. Similarly, the price of a geometry box has risen from BDT 60 to around BDT 100 within a year.
Saeed Hasan, proprietor of Royal Stationery on Jame Mosque Lane, the largest stationery market in Jashore, told Bonik Barta: “Paper and notebooks have been selling at higher prices for about a year. People from middle-income families are consequently struggling to adjust their expenses when buying notebooks and pens.”
The rise in paper prices has also affected photocopying costs. Hafizur Rahman, a photocopy shopkeeper at Jashore Zila School intersection in Jashore, said: “As the prices of paper, ink and electricity have increased, we now charge BDT 2.50 for photocopying one or two pages and BDT 2 per page for larger quantities. The rates are even higher in many areas outside the city.”
Students regularly need to photocopy assignments, notes, question papers, exam preparation materials and various other educational documents. Even a small additional cost per page adds to families’ monthly expenses.
Low-income families are feeling the greatest pressure from rising stationery prices. Yasmin Akter, a homemaker from the Shankarpur area of Jashore, has two daughters who attend school. In her words, “Even though the prices of notebooks and pens keep rising suddenly in the market, our family income isn’t increasing at the same rate. So now we have to calculate our expenses before buying each item.”
This issue doesn’t affect just one family. A large section of the country’s middle- and lower-income families are already having to squeeze their monthly budgets under the pressure of basic expenses such as food, rent, healthcare, transport and education. The rising cost of educational supplies is adding another burden to their expenses.
Jashore correspondent Abdul Quader contributed information to this report.