Nawabganj (Dhaka) Correspondent
Widowed Rahima Begum, 62, of Karimganj area under Raipara union at Dohar upazila in Dhaka, has been leading miserable and homeless life for the last 20 years following death of her husband Farhad.
Without getting any accommodation for living and without the allocation of the card for the widowed allowance, elderly Rahima Begum's life is a daily struggle for managing a handful of morsel. Without any home, she lives in a makeshift shanty made of sacs and tattered banners for last 10 years and manages her daily meal by living as housemaid in others’ houses. Issueless Rahima used to starve often when she is ill and unable to work.
Rahima informed this correspondent that for want of money, she was unable to visit to the doctor for her treatment. Despite leading a life of a pauper, she did not get any assistance from the Upazila Administration or Union Parishad so far.
Jewena Aziz, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare in this connection said, age was no bar for allotment of a widowed allowance card. She advised Rahima to contact with Upazila Social Welfare Officer.
Local people, however, complained, common helpless people's sufferings knew no bounds in procuring cards of widowed allowance, elderly aged allowance and the disabled allowance. For example, they mentioned the name of ultra-poor Rahima Begum who has no one to assist her to allocate a widowed allowance card.
Sabbir Hossain, Upazila Social Welfare Officer informed, the public representatives used to send lists of the distressed, helpless poor people in accordance with the government rules. Terming the incident of Rahima 'regretful' he said, action would be taken against responsible persons for any irregularities in preparing list of the distressed people.
Nasir Uddin Pallab, President of Dohar Workers Party informed, it was pity that many people including the government high-ups visited through the road where Rahima is living at a make-shift cottage made of sacs, festoon and banners for the last 10 years. But, no one hear of her appeal. He requested the concerned authorities to arrange an accommodation at the khasland and a card for widowed allowance for her survival.
Nurul Haque, Chairman of Raipara union and Isahaq, Member of Karimganj ward-4 informed, measure would be taken to provide Rahima with an accommodation facility and a distressed allowance card soon.