Elderly woman faces uncertain future living on warehouse veranda in Pabna as social benefits lapse
Photo Collected
Seventy-five-year-old Shahabanu Khatun is facing a precarious existence in the Nazimbazar area of Bera Bazar, Pabna, where she currently resides on the narrow veranda of a local businessman’s warehouse. Known to the community as “Shokerer Ma,” the elderly woman has no permanent home and relies entirely on the charity of others for food and shelter.
Her living conditions are dire. A local schoolteacher, Amiya Raha, provided a wooden cot, quilts, and pillows to keep her off the damp floor, but the veranda offers little protection from the elements. During the rainy season, water seeps through the open spaces, soaking her bedding, while the winter months expose her to harsh, freezing winds.
The struggle for survival has defined Shahabanu’s later years. Widowed 35 years ago, she raised her two sons by working in homes and shops following the death of her husband, who was a manual laborer at the local market. Her eldest son, Shoker Hossain, passed away seven or eight years ago. Her surviving son, 40-year-old Shukur Ali, works as a rickshaw puller and lives in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj. Shukur Ali stated that his own financial situation is extremely fragile, making it impossible for him to provide a home for his mother, though he visits her when his limited income allows.
Shahabanu previously received a government old-age allowance, but locals report that the payments have ceased for approximately two years. The reason for the disruption remains unclear, though residents suspect complications related to mobile banking or documentation. The owner of the warehouse, Shahidul Islam, who allows Shahabanu to remain on the premises on humanitarian grounds, confirmed that her allowance appears to have stopped, leaving the frail woman without a consistent source of food or support.
Local community members are now calling on the Department of Social Services to intervene, investigate the cessation of her allowance, and restore the benefits.
Sirajul Islam, the Bera Upazila Social Services Officer, stated that he was previously unaware of Shahabanu’s plight. He has pledged to investigate the status of her government benefits and verify why payments may have stopped. Furthermore, he noted that the department operates an elderly care facility in Pabna and suggested that, if necessary, arrangements could be made to transition Shahabanu to a secure shelter. Officials have promised to conduct a site visit to assess her situation and determine the appropriate path forward.
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