Shapon Chawdhury, Rangpur
The reaping and threshing of paddy at the fields of the villages have been completed. Now, the daily wage earners like the farmhands and day labourers have no work.
Moreover, the price of rice is continually increasing and the condition of the low-income group of people has turned miserable. Hundreds of labourers and farmworkers from various rural areas of Rangpur district come out of their houses peddling bicycles early in the morning and wait at various crossings of Rangpur city in search of work.
Ahmed Ali (52) of Alal Char village under Gangachora upazila said, “We can't survive as the price of rice is on the rise. We don’t have any work in the villages. As a result, we visit here and there in search of work. Without work we can’t feed our children.”
The low-income group of people of villages is still recuperating from the damage of the recent flood. The transplanting of Boro saplings has not yet started in the district. As a result, the farmhands are without any work now. Moreover, the price of essentials has become a matter of concern for many specially for daily wage earners and poor farmers. Finding no way, they are frolicking here and there.
According to sources, the number of farm labourers in Rangpur district is nearly 200,000. These farmhands of various char villages of the river Teesta, specially from Gangadhara, Kaunia and Taraganj upazilas are seen to visit the city areas of Rangpur daily, round the year. Tying a basket, shovel, sickle and other agriculture tools at the back of the bicycle, they come out of their houses early in the morning, peddling in groups and reaching the town and city areas of Shimul Bagh, Jamtola crossing, Central Bus Terminal, Bet Patti or near Rangpur Railway station. They become glad if they get any work. Many were seen disappointed as they could not manage any work. As a result they had to return house empty-handed.
A group of 10 labourers were seen to sit at the eastern gate of Rangpur Medical College Hospital around 8:30am.
Hossain Ali of Ramakanta village under Gangachara upazila said, “Recalling the name of Allah, I came out of my house early in the morning in search of work. If I get work, I will feel happy. But, I often return home without any money as there is a shortage of work.”
Naoshar Ali and Abdul Hakim of Chilakhal Char of the same upazila said that often they failed to manage any work even after sitting at various city corners for the whole day. They said they were in an awkward situation because of the price hike of rice and other essentials.
They can earn Tk 300 to 400 a day if they get work to do. They manage their families with the money. But, without getting any work, they often have to starve or borrow money from their neighbours to purchase food, they added.
They further said that many poor people like them were still recuperating from the loss caused by the recent flood. They are yet to repair their houses. Moreover, an increased price of rice and other goods is forcing them to visit cities and towns in search of work.
Dulal Mia, Member of Luxmitari union under Gangachora upazila said, “Nearly 2,500 people (600 families) live in the char villages of the union. Of them at least 800 people earn their livelihood as day-labourers. Of these people, at least 400 labourers have gone to various districts including in Bogura, Cumilla, Feni and Sylhet in search of work. The rest of the people visit the district town daily in search of work.
