Dist admin to look after Khuki on PM’s behalf

Rajshahi district administration yesterday began looking after Dil Afroze Khuki, who has been a newspaper hawker in the northern city for 30 years.

In her 60s now, she regularly gives away her hard-earned income to the destitute, choosing a life of constant battles.

The administration took her responsibilities on behalf of the prime minister, said Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Jalil.

"I visited her and directed officials concerned for necessary action," he said. "She doesn't require money, what she needs is care, love of family members and respect."

He said the administration has employed workers to clean and paint her house.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam also sent gift items for her, including new clothes.

Visiting her yesterday, this correspondent saw workers cleaning the house and setting up water connection.

People and organisations visited her with gifts as well. Khuki's neighbour, Nahid Akter Tania, has also decided to stand by her.

Nahid and her son live in a rented house next to Khuki's, since her husband left her. She has been looking after Khuki for several years. An art teacher, Tania also must struggle to make ends meet.

"We think Tania is the right person to look after Khuki, as her own relatives are not helpful," the DC said.

While talking to this correspondent, Tania said she has no parents and she treats Khuki as family.

Tania also mentioned of alleged intimidation by Khuki's family members.

She said one of Khuki's sisters asked Tania's landlord to drive her out for speaking about Khuki's woes to media.

A local goon apparently threatened Khuki for "talking against her family," she added.

The DC said, they asked neighbours to report any kind of threat made to Khuki.

About people thronging her house with gifts, Khuki said it feels great seeing people coming to meet her with gifts and cleaning her house, but she does not need all these.

Some organisations offered her assistance and asked her to promise them that she would not work as a hawker anymore.

"Why? Is there anything wrong with being a hawker? Why do they hate this work?" Khuki wondered.

She said she was more concerned about her property. "What will happen to my property when I die? I want to donate my property to the brilliant students of two schools in Kushtia," Khuki said.