Playing for Survival: The Hunger Games in Bangladesh

In the early morning in Chapra, a small village in northwest Bangladesh, Mohammad Abdur Rouf is already up and about.

He makes a six-mile journey to a neighboring village, where he queues up with many others to participate in a carnival game. However, instead of the usual dart throwing or ring tossing, Abdur, who is 35 years old, spends his time hitting a small yellow ball with a plastic putter.

No matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to hit the ball accurately enough to make it go upside down along a track and land perfectly between two goal posts. Despite not winning, the rice farmer still smiles brightly as he receives a small 8-ounce bottle of vegetable oil as a consolation prize.

After the game ends for the day, he cheerfully exclaims, "I would play again any day! Any day!"

Mohammad Abdur Rouf plays the SS Food Challenge

Courtesy of Omar Sunny Somrat

Abdur is the only one working to support his family of nine, which includes his three children, parents, and two brothers. He is just one of many Bangladeshis who have participated in the SS Food Challenge, a game created by content creator Omar Sunny Somrat.

The challenges in the game are similar to the ones seen on the popular 1980s show Takeshi’s Castle, where players must conquer a variety of physical obstacles in order to emerge victorious.

Many players in Bangladesh, who often live in poverty, are not motivated by fame, glory, or money. Instead, they compete to win basic necessities such as rice, oil, sugar, lentils, and other items that have become too expensive due to inflation.

According to Somrat, the competition is based on a "first come, first serve" basis with free registration, and everyone is guaranteed to walk away as a winner.

After years of facing challenges as a creator, he came up with the idea for the challenge two years ago. This was during a time when commodity prices surged in Bangladesh due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the prices of wheat, corn, and energy skyrocketed. The World Bank has predicted that these high prices will persist globally until the end of 2024.

A player glides down a makeshift jet on cardboard runway, holding a ball and aiming for the basket during a game in Purandarpur village in the Pabna District of Bangladesh on October 17, 2023.

Somrat (center) is the creator of the games. He is pictured with his team on March 6, 2024 in Banwarinagar village in the Pabna District.

Courtesy Omar Sunny Somrat/SS Food Challenge

Somrat's game show has become a huge success thanks to its vibrant games and the guarantee that everyone leaves with a prize. With over 1.5 billion views online and four million subscribers on YouTube and Facebook, along with 200,000 followers on TikTok, the challenge has truly taken off.

Despite the popularity, the prices of the game show have skyrocketed.

Somrat earns $35,000 to $45,000 every month from his large social media following through online clicks and digital monetization. Despite having a team of 25 people, he still manages to take home $5,000 to $15,000 per month after covering the expenses of purchasing prizes. Surprisingly, he has chosen not to work with sponsors at this time.

The online venture didn't achieve success immediately. Somrat, who is 32 years old, began creating "random videos" in 2017. After that, he organized an online eating contest that was deemed unsafe for the participants.

Fruit sellers at a wholesale market in Dhaka on January 21, 2024

A player in Purandarpur village, Pabna District of Bangladesh, slides down a cardboard runway on a makeshift jet. They are holding a ball and trying to aim for the basket during a game on October 17, 2023.

Photo credit: Omar Sunny Somrat/SS Food Challenge

In 2021, he started arranging competitions for children in the village where they could participate in games and win prizes such as household appliances. Despite the positive response from the community, he felt that the prizes were not quite right.

However, a year later, he found the perfect solution. As food prices rose and the Bangladeshi currency, the taka, decreased in value compared to the US dollar in 2022, he realized that the taka had lost 20% of its value against the dollar. This made imports into Bangladesh much more costly.

Somrat remembered that the prices of edible oil and onions were extremely high, which led them to choose these items as rewards. The decision was well-received by the villagers, attracting more people to join in as they struggled to meet their needs. Everyone was able to receive something while enjoying themselves at the same time.

Between 2022 and 2023, food prices in Bangladesh jumped by 9%, the highest average rate in 12 years, according to the country’s Bureau of Statistics.

Fruit sellers at a wholesale market in Dhaka on January 21, 2024

Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

Inflation increased globally in both developed and developing countries in the year, primarily because of supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ruchir Desai from Asia Frontier Investments highlighted this trend.

Desai pointed out that this period was crucial, particularly for emerging markets such as Bangladesh, which heavily relies on imports of oil and wheat.

In addition, Dhaka had to reduce subsidies for oil and other important items to get a large loan from the International Monetary Fund, according to Desai.

But there is good news for Bangladesh in the future, as analysts are now forecasting lower prices in 2024. This will be a welcome relief for individuals such as Asma Khatun, a homemaker and mother of four.

On a recent game day, she came back to her village with bags of potatoes, onions, sugar, and lentils that she won. This will help feed her family for the next few days.

As for Somrat, the games have become very popular. His main worry now is how to manage the large crowds that come to watch.

Editor's P/S:

The SS Food Challenge is a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Bangladeshi people. Faced with rising food prices and economic hardship, they have found a way to bring joy and sustenance to their communities. The game is a celebration of life, a way to connect with others, and a reminder that even in the most challenging of times, there is always hope.

The challenge also highlights the importance of social responsibility. Somrat's decision to use the game to help those in need is a powerful example of how we can all make a difference in the world. His story is an inspiration to us all, and a reminder that even the smallest of acts can have a big impact.