Incomes vanish for the vulnerable
Rafiqul Islam sells kebab from evening to late night every day at Rangpur city's Company area. He used to make around Tk 400-500 per day, but since the April 14 "lockdown", his income has come down to zero.
"I haven't sold anything for the last four days," he said.
Talking with this newspaper, Rafiqul said the situation was similar last year, when the government enforced a "shutdown" to curb coronavirus infections.
"I took care of my family with my savings. Besides, there had been support from the affluent," he said. "This year, I have no money. I could've fed my family, if I had any savings left."
Roadside vendors like Rafiqul, and those from non-formal and low income groups in Rangpur and Dinajpur are struggling, as their daily income dropped to nothing or almost zero during the ongoing "strict lockdown".
The situation is worse than last year, as there has been little to no support from the affluent this time.
As there is no record for roadside vendors in Dinajpur and Rangpur, it is impossible to tally them. But there are many low-income people involved with such non-formal businesses, who take care of their families with the daily earnings.
Tea stalls, betel leaf, cigarette and street food shops, and clothes traders are usually involved in roadside business. Besides, there are several hundred people who earn through various jobs like repairing electronic items.
Jorina Begum used to sell "chitoi pitha" at Rangpur city's City Market area. The pitha was a popular item among the low-income group, but her shop also remains closed since April 14.
"I had to take loan to feed my family," she said.
Liakat Ali, a betel leaf and cigarette seller at Dinajpur town's Kalitola area, said his daily earnings dropped to around Tk 50-100, which is not enough to feed his four-member family. "I couldn't even arrange for my iftar."
The 67-year-old man urged the government, non-government organisations and the affluent to help people like him, as they did last year.
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