Dhaka, March 20 -- As glittering shopping malls and crowded markets signal the arrival of Eid in the capital, a different reality unfolds in its narrow alleys where thousands of marginalised families are preparing for a festival stripped of joy.

In Mohammadpur's Geneva Camp and nearby slums, the usual festive spirit is largely absent.

Instead, rising food prices, shrinking incomes and mounting debts dominate daily life.

"I have three children. They keep asking for new clothes, but I cannot even ensure regular meals," said Rahima Begum, a domestic worker. "Eid now feels like any other difficult day."

The situation is no different in Basila ,where many low-income families live in makeshift homes along the riverbank.

For day labourers a...