Analysis the following passage and answer the following questions (৭৮ - ৮০)
Raising VAT and shrinking social protection are unwise moves
As the people of Bangladesh continue to struggle to make ends meet during a high inflationary period, two recent government decisions are considered to have worsened the situation. First, the interim government raised the value-added tax (VAT) and supplementary duty (SD) on more than 100 products and services on January 9 through two ordinances. Second, a programme of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), launched in October 2024 to sell oil, lentils, and rice in trucks to low-income people, has been cancelled.
The VAT and SD on a number of items have been raised substantially. For example, VAT on sweets, clothes, and restaurant meals has been raised by 7.5-15 percent—a 100 percent increase. In some cases, the increase is even 200 percent. VAT at the production stage and SD on imports like fruit juice and colours have also increased. SD on mobile phone service has been increased by three percent.
Which of the following best describes the effect of the government’s actions on the citizens of Bangladesh?