Poor find no work to defray family costs amid curfew

People on low incomes, especially day-labourers, across districts have been leading a miserable life in near starvation, as they found no work for the past three days amid the ongoing countrywide curfew.
In Rangpur, thousands of rickshaw-pullers, day-labourers, street vendors or hawkers, roadside shopkeepers, sellers of fruits, vegetables, clothes, shoes and foods in the town are struggling hard for their livelihood in this fluid political situation.
Mostafa, a rickshaw-puller in Guptapara area, said: "My daily income has come down drastically amid the ongoing unrest."
He normally earns Tk 500-600 a day. But presently, he is struggling to earn Tk 120-150, which makes it difficult for him to run his four-member family, let alone buying medicines for his ailing wife.
In Rajshahi, a good numbers of day-labourers were seen sitting at various points on Tuesday morning, waiting to get hired.
Abdul Aziz, who came from Charghat upazila by cycle, said he did not get any work for the past three days due to the curfew.
Imam Hossain, a Kazla-based rickshaw-puller, has to pay the rickshaw owner Tk 400 daily. "Due to curfew, I can't earn even Tk 200. How will I pay the owner and make both ends meet for my family?" he lamented the fact.
Shameen Ahmed, deputy commissioner in Rajshahi, said they imposed curfew with an eye to protecting the lives of the public and their property. "I hope the situation will be normal soon."
In Lalmonirhat, daily wage earners and people on low incomes are in hardship for lack for their mobility to earn some bucks to bear the bare necessities.
Hamidul earns only Tk 250 a day by pulling a rickshaw. He needs Tk 70/80 to recharge battery and defray his personal expenses.
In Cox's Bazar, at least 0.5-million labourers remain unemployed. Jamir Uddin of Ukhia upazila said, "I have no work for the past six days, so my family is passing through hard times."
Newspaper hawker Mostafa Kamal said, "I usually deliver more than 22 local newspapers in the town. But no newspaper is published in this situation. So, my work is completely off."
In Sylhet, some poor people who stay here in rented accommodation earn the bare minimum to meet their family requirements.
"We don't know when the situation will be normal," said day-labourer Ataur Rahman, who hails from Derai upazila of Sunamganj, on Tuesday afternoon. "I have no work for the past three days. I can't continue this way."
Fruit vendor Naim from Baniachang upazila in Habiganj could not manage to procure mango from the wholesale fruit market in the city's Kodomtoli area due to short supply.
In Khulna, the poor like Motiar, Lutfar, Kuddus Mia and Aklas have no work for a few days. Even construction work has remained halted and workers and rickshaw-pullers cannot move elsewhere due to political unrest.

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