Some generous persons including journalists of 'Bangladesh Post' extended their helping hands to assist Toma Rani Paul who abandoned her drug-addicted husband and has been struggling for survival with two minor children by selling Papad (a pulse-powder made fried, puffed, thin bread) and Nimki, turns completely helpless as Coronavirus forced her to go out of her room and sell her products to customers.
When her drug-addict husband went behind the bar, Toma Rani, 28, with her two children took refuge at the thatched cottage of her mother Subashi Rani Das, a house-maid, at Kumarpara area of Rajshahi city from her husband's house in Baneswar of Puthia Upazila five months ago.
Aiming to rear up her ten and eight-year-old two children in a sound environment, she decided not to return to her husband's house and admitted them to a local school. She drew Taka 5,000 loans from a local NGO and started to make Papad and Nimki and selling those in the markets.
She used to repay a Taka 70 daily installment of the loan and was surviving somehow with two children with rest of the money she earned daily. But, her only way of living has now been jeopardized with the suspension of selling her products due to the Coronavirus threat.
Meanwhile, Tonmoy Paul, 35, husband of Toma was released from the jail in February and he went to the school to pick up his two children. Hearing the news, Toma rushed to the school and snatched away the children from the grip of her drug-addicted husband and told him clearly that she would never return to his house and would prefer to manage her living by selling Papad.
Toma Rani informed, she was married to fried-food seller Tonmoy of Baneswar area but after marriage she could learn her husband was a drug peddler and a Yaba consumer. Often police raided his house, arrested him and sent him to jail. While at home, Tonmoy regularly tortured her and several times she took shelter to her mother's house earlier.
Five month's ago she vowed not to return to her husband's house anymore. Her elder son reads in class IV and younger daughter in class-II. Tonmoy Paul admitted that there are several cases against him under Narcotics Control Act.
He said, he does not take any drug but acts to traffic drug from one place to another. Now, he does not traffic the drug. He also refused to torture his wife and said, he has filed a case with the court accusing his wife and mother-in-law on the allegation of taking away his children from his house.
Toma Rani informed, due to Corona situation, her business is now closed. Though she is not required to repay the instalment of the loans, she is finding it difficult to manage her and her children's food.
Her mother gets some relief but the local councillor did not supply her any relief because she is not a voter under RCC. She does not know how many days she would be able to survive by sharing the meagre relief materials of her mother.
Being learnt about the plight of Toma Rani, some generous persons in cooperation with the staff of Bangladesh Post and the Bangla Daily Prothom Alo visited the house of Toma Rani and assisted her with cash and kind on Saturday noon.
Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Hamidul Haque in this connection said a meeting with the authorities of RCC was held on Thursday where a decision has been taken to supply relief materials even to those who are not voters of under RCC.
