She has been sitting all day long, fixated on the spot, with her flask full of tea, a pot of biscuits, and some bananas. Rachana Rani Sikder can be spotted on the pavement at Dhanmondi 7/A in the capital from 11am till 11pm.
With her husband completely bedridden following a stroke, she is the sole breadwinner for the family of three. Rachana lives in the capital’s Bou Bazar area with her husband and son.
“I cook in the morning and then come here to sell tea. It becomes very difficult for me to come to work every morning. I have no other option as my husband can't work. I have to run the family," said Rachana.
During the pandemic, Rachana lost her job at an office. Since then, she has been selling tea. A former colleague gave her the flask. Her son also did not go to school for long. He is staying in Narayanganj temporarily and trying out entry-level work at garment factories. He is not very fond of the profession, said the mother.
“I could not buy a saree for myself during puja this year. Someone donated a saree, and I had to be happy with it for this year. I cannot even rest properly. If I rest, then who will provide for my family? What will happen to my husband and son?”
Rachana said she is finding it impossible to pay for her husband’s medical expenses. “My husband has been bedridden for the past 30 years. Although I am bearing all the expenses, I am unable to pay for the medical costs. I have no savings.”
Despite this, she is content with her business and does not want to beg for money.
“We eat properly if the earnings are good and eat less at other times. I do not like to borrow money to feed my family. If there is no cooking oil, I cook without cooking oil. I can only afford two litres of cooking oil each month. There are days when we eat puffed rice for dinner. Prices of daily essentials have skyrocketed,” she added.
The woman said her income has dropped drastically during the past month as a consequence of the BNP-Jamaat’s hartals and blockades.
“On a typical day, I sell tea worth Tk2,500. But now it is much less,” she added.