It was 2:00am in Dhaka. The bone-chilling winter breeze was blowing ferociously. The roads have been quiet. A couple of vehicles sometimes sped by means of the capital’s abandoned streets. This reporter observed a person trembling inside a plastic bag, making an attempt his finest to hunt refuge from the chilly amidst the eerie environment, close to Panthapath intersection.
“All I’ve is a mat, a skinny blanket, and a plastic bag. I am nonetheless having hassle falling asleep. That is no approach to stay,” he stated.
For all newest information, observe The Each day Star’s Google Information channel. Close by, 6-year-old Tara was sleeping together with her mom. They promote flowers through the day.
At night time, they sleep on the footpaths with the assistance of two skinny blankets.
“Why are you continue to awake?” the reporter requested Tara. “How can I sleep on this chilly?” she promptly replied. When requested about her father, she merely stated, “He is useless.” No feelings have been current on her face.
Her mom Masuda added, “We make a mean of Tk 200 per day.” She and Tara just lately moved to Dhaka from Barishal, leaving two of her kids behind.
“We ship a portion of the cash dwelling. We hardly handle three sq. meals a day with the rest,” she added.
This correspondent talked with 10 individuals from completely different locations of the capital on Thursday night time, from 12:00am to 2:30am. All of them had related tales to inform.
Shuvo, a 16-year-old, was curled up on the footpath close to Karwan Bazar. He has been staying there for 3 years. After his father remarried following his mom’s loss of life, he fled his Manikganj dwelling and got here to Dhaka.
Shuvo was shivering whereas speaking. He simply had a plastic bag as his mattress, whereas he used his sneakers as a pillow. He wrapped himself up with a lungi, in absence of a blanket.
“Final 12 months, I obtained a blanket as a donation. That was stolen. I’ve nothing to protect myself from the chilly proper now,” he stated. “I barely get something to eat. Typically, passers-by assist me out by giving me some cash. Often, I acquire plastics and promote them.”
“In the present day, I could not handle any meals. I am ravenous and shivering,” he added.
Mohammad Mohsin, 40, has been residing on the streets for about 14 years. His story is a bit completely different. When he was a schoolboy in Jamalpur, he fell in love with a lady. Her identify continues to be written on his hand.
On the age of 14, Mohsin and his high-school sweetheart ran away to Dhaka. He then began working as a garment employee. Nevertheless, the lady ultimately returned to her household and married elsewhere.
Depressed, Mohsin barely attended his office and was ultimately fired. That is how he ended up within the streets.
After transferring to and from numerous footpaths, he’s now staying on one at Karwan Bazar. The person would not have a blanket or heat garments of his personal.
Jahid Hasan, who works as a workers at a tea stall, has shared one in every of his winter outfits and a blanket with Mohsin. He himself has been staying on the footpath following his mom’s loss of life in 2014.
Such are the tales of the footpaths…