Struggling to make ends meet
Before the pandemic, rickshaw-van puller Ramjan Ali used to earn Tk 300-400 by mainly transporting furniture. But his worst times started from April 5, when the government announced the lockdown, which compelled shops to remain shut.
"The pandemic not only snatched away my income, but also that of my wife, who used to work as a domestic help in three houses," Ramjan told The Daily Star yesterday. "She was refused to come to work by all three families at the end of March."
"We haven't gotten any assistance from anybody," said the 45-year-old.
Like Ramjan, many people from the low-income group in the city are struggling to make ends meet.
Tilak Paul, helper of a city bus, has been sitting idle at his house in a city slum with no income since April 14. "I used to earn Tk 350 a day, but as public vehicles are not plying since Wednesday, I've lost my work," said Tilak. "What little savings I have are disappearing."
Meanwhile, the district Administration distributed relief materials among 300 families at Tiger Pass area on Thursday, and among 1,000 people yesterday.
"We have enough food in stock," said Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mominur Rahman. "We will continue to do this every day as long as it is needed."
Chattogram police have also decided to stand by the poor with food. Their programme started at 23 points under Bandar division of CMP on Thursday.
CMP Commissioner Saleh Mohammad Tanvir said 5,000 poor families would be given assistance.
Besides, some individuals were seen helping the poor. One of them, Tossaddek Nur Chowdhury Topu started distributing free daily essentials. "One can take 3kg of different daily essentials from my rickshaw-van, which roams the city," he said.
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