Beggars should be rehabilitated--

Begging, despite being a hated profession, continues to exist in our society. We can see beggars everywhere in the country, especially at bus stands, railway platforms, hospitals, foot-over bridges, markets, parks and traffic signals. Even healthy people are seen begging and children are also pushed into beggary. This is a grim reality that a number of children of school-going age have been deployed for a demeaning act of beggary by their handlers. Floating people from other districts have thronged the capital in a great number during recent years, bringing with them a large cache of professional beggars. Many of them in disguise of transgender and sick people ask for money in a way that verges on extortion. Some places in Dhaka city have been declared beggar-free. The beggars, however, are often seen everywhere in these places.

It is said that a hefty amount of money is earned every day through begging, which cannot otherwise be earned with investment and hard work. As most people of our country are soft-hearted, some people play tricks to extract money through begging. So, professional beggars are everywhere in cities, ports, villages and towns. Begging is a bane to society and a hindrance to the progress of the country. Therefore, if we want to make our country a developed one, we have to get rid of this begging culture. Financial assistance to the destitute should be ensured and action should be taken against professional beggars. Only then can we build an ideal society and nation. The authorities concerned are requested to take initiative to stop professional begging and stand by the genuine helpless.

Ashikujaman Syed,

Foreign Service Officer,

Anhui Haikang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd,

Anqing, China,

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com