The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syful Islam

High commodity prices and low employment generation have made people's life miserable and forced many of them to take begging for survival.

Having failed to meet the daily needs with their little income, many poorest of the poor have started begging.

In the recent days number of beggars has increased significantly in the streets of Dhaka city. They are mostly seen at bus stoppages and traffic signal spots. Scores of beggars also dash into buses for begging when they stop at traffic signals. The beggars include old men and women and also young people of poor income bracket.

Some beggars said they came to Dhaka in the last few days from countryside as they failed to meet their daily needs in the wake of price spiral of essentials.

"There is no work at my village at the moment. Prices of almost all food items have doubled in the last two years, but my income decreased. I cannot meet my daily needs with my low income.

I found no job in Dhaka city. So I have no option but to beg," said Rahim Mia, a middle aged man while talking to The New Nation in city's Gulshan area.

Rahim Mia is not the only one who left his village failing to ensure two square meals a day. Sakhina, Manju, Nannu, Shafiq and many of them likes also came capital city Dhaka and started begging.

"I came to the city to find a job. But the factory owners offered me very poor salary by which I would not be able to make my own ends meet, leave alone supporting my family members. So, I started begging," said Manju who came from Satkhira district.

As the number of beggars increased steadily in the capital, earning from this profession has become tougher. A large number of beggars especially women have changed their profession and become hawker. Therefore, number of traffic signal based hawkers also recorded a sharp rise in the city.

"I had been begging near the traffic signals during the last three years. But I changed my begging profession and now selling lozenge. This is more profitable as some people give money without taking lozenge or give double price," said Selina Akter, mother of two young children, in the city's Shahbag area.

"My husband deserted me with two kids. When I narrate my miserable situation, people buy chocolates and give extra money. This way I am running my family," she said.

Meanwhile, the World Bank recently said that recent food price rise has pushed down some 40 lakh people of the country anew below the poverty line.

World Bank country Director Xian Zhu said the price of rice remained high despite the bumper production of 'Boro' crop. It is causing hardship to the poor and low-income group of people and eroding nearly one-fifth of their household income.