‘Another sacrificial Eid aisle, beef and ranba are not our luck’

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

There are numerous holes in the tin sheds and fences. In the morning, heavy raindrops enter the house through those holes. Even if the rain subsides in the afternoon, think of the dampness on the floor of the house. Two children are rolling around playing on a slightly wet bed. Mother Nachima was sitting next to her and was telling the story of her daily struggles, the hardships of life.

Nachima, a housekeeper by profession, lives in a rented house in Panitula area of ​​Sylhet city. I spoke to him at that house on Wednesday afternoon. Nachima said with a blank look on her face and a pitiful face, ‘I go to people’s houses and work. Low income. She does not have a husband, she has another family. I am not able to take all four children and run the family. Tiena-chinchachraya (squeeze) give it.’

Nachima has two daughters and two sons. Elder daughter Suraiya Akhtar is 18 years old. Two sons Rahim Hasan (11) in first class and Ali Hussain (6) are studying in Furkania Qawamiya Madrasa of local Akhalia area. Younger daughter Sumaiya Akhtar Alia is 4 years old. Husband does not pay any maintenance. Nachima has to handle the family and children’s education expenses.

Nachima earns 8-9 thousand taka per month by working in different houses. He said that the rent of a one-room house with electricity bill is Rs. 3,000. Five-six thousand rupees are spent on food. The entire income is spent on living and eating. There is no end to the tension in the world of scarcity. Day by day only difficult times are coming in his life due to rising prices of daily commodities.

A storm of regret in Nachima’s voice. He said, ‘I cook for one meal, I eat for three meals. Due to lack of money, Randha is also closed many times. Do not eat fish, month after month. Potato is the hope. Rice should always be eaten with Alubhaji and Alubharta. The kids were serious about eating fish, the last time I was running Mirka (Mrigel) fish 15-20 days ago. The last meat I used to cook was poultry. I was bringing Chaiya-Maiga beef last Eid al-Adha. Another sacrificial Eid aisle; But we did not have the luck of beef and ranba.

In conversation, Nachima talks about her lack. He said that during Eid, house owners try to buy new clothes for their children with the extra bonus they give with the salary. Many homeowners give away old clothes to meet their own needs. Due to low income, many times he has to take loans. A few months ago, he borrowed 6,000 from a person at an interest of 1,000 per month. Apart from this, seven thousand rupees are owed to the shop.

Chittagong Residents Face Daily Hardship Amid Severe Natural Gas Shortage

Read More

Nachima said that this month two boys were admitted to the madrasa for Tk 1,400. They have to pay Rs 400 per month in Madrasa. Another 400 rupees have to be paid for notebooks and pens. It will cost 2 thousand 200 taka to make madrasa clothes for two boys. Can’t make clothes for boys because of lack of money. Apart from this, they will need 160 rupees to make their student identity card.

Nasimer will complete 38 years next Sunday. First the father died of illness, then the mother; Nachima was only one year old then. Nachima was the youngest among three sisters and one brother. In the hope of happiness, at the age of seven, he left his home in Shyamarchar village of Dirai in Sunamganj and came to Sylhet city with his elder sister. “The war with which the life started is still going on,” said Nachima.

After coming to Sylhet as a child, Nachimara used to work in one house or another. He said that at the age of 19, he got married to Ranju Mia of Kajala village of Tarail upazila of Kishoreganj. After marriage, she went to her husband’s house and found out that her husband had previously married another woman. He returned to Sylhet in anger and sorrow. Now sometimes go to husband’s house, husband also comes to Sylhet sometimes. The relationship is very much ‘swinging like a thread.’

Nachima said, ‘I grew up with difficulty. Still suffering. Pain in the hands, pain in the legs, pain in the neck. There is no end to illness in the body. The heat is rising. So I have sent Aiz (yesterday Wednesday) to Bara Maiar as my work transfer. I no longer go to work. Due to lack of money, I could not even take medicine. A few days ago, some work was chuita (gone). I have not found a new job. How will the day go on, I see darkness in my eyes.

Nachima’s voice comes while talking. He said, ‘Until now (Wednesday 3 pm) the children have not eaten anything. I bought potatoes and onions from someone in the area. He gave a tip of 20 rupees. I bought two eggs with this money. I will break eggs, cook rice. So the children will eat it. The family of tension, the struggle is going on every day. The lack of childhood did not disappear in Maizh (middle) life.