Mobile, source of their livelihood

Two siblings, who are visually impaired by birth, are earning their livelihood through using mobile technology at Teesta river char (land emerged from the river bed) Uttar Sindurna in Hatibandha upazila of the district.

Shahin Islam, 26, and Sazu Islam, 18, earn up to Tk 150 per day from transferring mobile balance and bKash money of the villagers.

“We have been earning through using mobile technology for the last three years, and we are lucky that char people come to us for transferring mobile balance and bKash money,” said Shahin.

“Many char people try to assist us financially, but we never accept it. We just request them to help us through taking mobile technology facility from us,” Sazu said.

They are sons of Nur Islam and Saleha Khatun of the village, and they have another brother, Shahjahan Ali, 21, who is normal and assists their father in maintaining the family.

“I had 12 bighas of land, but all of it, except 10 decimals of my homestead, was devoured by the Teesta river in the last one decade,” Nur Islam said. “Our two sons were visually impaired when they were born, and we tried many treatments, but in vain,” he said.

Shahin is a Hafez from Hafeziya Madrasa while Sazu is illiterate. Shahin has been enjoying the government's disabled allowance but Sazu does not get this facility. 

Around 50 char people come to them for transferring mobile balance and sending bKash money every day, said Shahin. “Our earning from mobile technology helps the family,” he added.

Shafiqul Islam, 46, an NGO worker in Teesta char, said he takes mobile balance facility  from the siblings and they never make any mistake in transferring balance to a selected number. “I also send money to my family through them,” he said.

Farmer Sajedul Islam, 52, said he and many others always go to the siblings for mobile balance transferring and sending bKash money. “They are meritorious and they never forget what they hear,” he said. 

Both of them know how to run a small grocery shop but they cannot do it due to lack of financial support. But they dream of opening a small grocery business in future.