Samad Sells Papads Four Decades After Factory Accident
Photo Collected
Abdus Samad, a 65-year-old man from Nawabpara village in Jessore’s Abhaynagar upazila, has spent nearly four decades selling crispy lentil wafers, known as papads, despite losing his left wrist in an industrial accident. Every day, he navigates the local market and railway station, deftly holding a large plastic basin filled with his merchandise tucked against his waist using his bent left elbow, a testament to his enduring resilience in the face of adversity.
Samad’s daily routine begins with a journey through Nawabpara market, the adjacent railway station, and along the bustling Jessore-Khulna highway, where he sells his papads from morning until late evening. His tireless efforts not only provide for his family but also embody a spirit of self-reliance forged through personal tragedy.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Originally from Cumilla, Samad moved to Abhaynagar in 1985, securing a permanent laborer position at the state-owned Bengal Textile Mills. His life took a dramatic turn in 1987 when his left hand was caught in machinery, necessitating an amputation at the wrist. The severe injury led to his dismissal from the mill in the same year, leaving him jobless and debilitated. With the severance pay, he purchased five katha of land in Nawabpara village and built a modest home with four rooms and a tin roof, providing shelter but no income. Unable to perform manual labor with one hand, he struggled to find new employment, eventually turning to papad selling as his sole means of livelihood.
Today, Samad’s household centers around his wife, Zohra Khatun, 60. They have four children—two sons and two daughters—with both daughters now married. His elder son, Liton Sheikh, 43, lives separately, running a lemon business, while his younger son, Monir Hossain, 38, drives a van and lives in a separate part of the family home. Each day, Monir purchases the necessary papads and oil, while Zohra meticulously fries them after the Fajar (dawn) prayer. The crispy papads are then carefully packaged in pairs, ready for Samad to arrange in his basin.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Samad typically departs his home at 7 AM, selling until 1 PM. After a midday break for lunch and a bath, he resumes his sales at 4 PM, continuing until 8 PM. On some fortunate days, his entire stock sells out quickly, but often he returns with unsold papads. He estimates selling an average of 100 papads daily, each priced at five taka, generating approximately 500 taka in revenue. However, after accounting for expenses, including nearly a kilogram of oil needed for frying, which totals 300 to 350 taka, his daily profit margin ranges between 150 and 200 taka.
He laments the current economic climate, noting that once, papad and oil were more affordable, attracting more customers and yielding higher profits. “Now, the prices of papads and oil have soared, and there are fewer customers,” Samad explains. “My income has significantly decreased, yet the cost of everything else has risen dramatically. It’s a struggle to manage household expenses with this income. Still, I never have to ask anyone for money. I endure these hardships to run my family with dignity.”
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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