The Hijra community has donated Tk20 lakh as financial support to the traders of Bangabazar, who suffered huge losses in the recent fire incident.
President of Bangladesh Hijra Development Organization Kashmiri Dipali said: “We have been taking money from them (Bangabazar traders) for the last 30-40 years. Now, during their difficult time, we have decided to not go for our Eid shopping and stand by our brothers.”
“We have collected Tk20 lakh from all over the country. I have come to deliver that money today. If they live, we will live too,” Dipali said.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneGuruma Rakhi Sheikh, a member of the community, said: “We collect Tk1-2 from people, and save it up. Now we want to donate the money for the sake of humanity. This money will not be handed over to any businessman. The entire amount will be deposited into the relief fund for affected traders.”
Earlier in the day, Hijra leader Aleya donated Tk2 lakh from the money they saved up for Hajj.
Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, told reporters that the most pleasing among the money received today is that people the Hijra community donated Tk20 lakh.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune“For us, it is the best example of humanity. For this reason, we request the traders to never look at them with negligence.”
Fire-affected traders in the Bangabazar area have set up stalls on the footpath underneath a flyover on the south side of the market complex to begin selling any goods that the managed to save from the recent blaze.
Around 800 traders were seen displaying their stocks on the footpath on Saturday morning.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe temporary shops were supposed to be set up in the Bangabazar shopping complex, but the plan did not proceed as the authorities need more time to clear out the debris.