Can Dhaka get rid of beggars?

Despite being the most degrading job for a living, begging has become a common feature in Dhaka city. We can see beggars everywhere in the capital, especially at bus stands, railway platforms, hospitals, on foot-over bridges, in markets, parks and near traffic signals. Even healthy people are seen begging. Children are also pushed into this demeaning job. This is a sad reality that a number of children of school-going age have been deployed for the pathetic act. Many individuals in the guise of transgender and sick people ask for money in such a way that it is a kind of extortion. Some places in Dhaka city have been declared as beggar-free. But the beggars are often seen in those places as well.

It seems that begging has now become a profitable profession and even able-bodied persons do not want to earn their bread by doing manual work. We urge the authorities concerned to formulate a rehabilitation framework so that these people can have their homes as well as others rights.

Badsha Faysal

Jurain, Dhaka

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