Visually impaired Mehedy's struggle for livelihood

Visually impaired Mehedy Hasan, who used to be a student of Class II at Visual Impaired Rehabilitation Centre two years back, is now earning livelihood by selling chocolate in train compartments on Lalmonirhat-Burimari route every day. 

Moreover, before selling chocolates the eleven-year-old boy entertains the train passengers by singing songs, but does not take any extra money from the buyers.

The little boy from Teesta river basin Purbo Sindurna village in Hatibandha upazila is doing this not for himself but for his seven-year-old younger sister Rehena Akter Shapla and elderly grandmother Rezia Bewa, 68.

After being separated two years ago, Mehedy's parents Rezaul Islam and Jesmin Begum got married again and both are living in other places abandoning their two minor kids.

Mehedy, who came home from the Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Centre at Saptibari in Aditmari upazila two years ago, didn't return to the institution for continuing his study due to his parents' divorce.

“After finishing my study, I wanted to be a teacher, but it did not happen after our parents left us abandoned,” Mehedy said, adding that he used to earn his livelihood by begging in the first six months.

“Since begging is a curse, I gave up the practice and started selling chocolates in moving train,” he said, adding that he now manages to earn Tk 200 to Tk 250 every day.

“I want to continue my study, but responsibilities of my younger sister and elderly grandmother are not letting me be free to do that,” the minor boy said.

Mehedy's grandmother Rezia said her son Rezaul has not contacted them in the last two years, while his divorced wife Jesmin also has not contacted her two children.

“The money Mehedy earns by selling chocolates supports us to maintain our livelihood,” she said, adding that her granddaughter Shapla is a Class I student at a local primary school.

Mobarak Hossain, 48, of Purbo Sindurna village, said Mehedy comes of his house every morning and after selling chocolates, all daylong he returns home in the evening.

“I have been seeing Mehedy selling chocolates in train compartments for the last one and a half years,” Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) on Lalmonirhat-Burimari route Zakir Hossain said, adding that they also enjoy Mehedy's songs.

Ershad Hossain, a teacher at Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Centre, said Mehedy is a brilliant student and he also sings well.

“We tried to bring him back here on couple of occasions but every time he refused, showing the responsibility of his sister and grandmother on him,” Ershad said.