The Biharis – former Pakistan citizens who were stranded after the 1971 Liberation War – living in the capital’s Mohammadpur and Mirpur are suffering a lot in the coronavirus pandemic.
They are scared of getting infected by the deadly virus without proper preparation, precaution and assistance to fight the outbreak. Like many others they too are finding it very difficult to make ends meet as all their income sources are now closed.
Moreover, the Urdu speaking community here in Dhaka – who are largely uneducated, unskilled and commonly work as barbers, butchers, rickshaw pullers, transport workers, automobile mechanics and more – are yet to receive any form of help or aid from the government or non-governmental organizations (NGO).
Dhaka Tribune looked closely into the lives of the Bihari community to get a better understanding of their struggles, and the hardships they face in this global crisis.
Living in poverty during a pandemic
With every passing day of the prolonged government “holiday” to combat coronavirus, the Biharis [the colloquial term for stranded Pakistanis who originally migrated to East Pakistan from Bihar in India after the 1947 Partition], most of whom live below the poverty line, are now struggling to ensure a single meal.
“We are crying for food,” said Ayub Hossain, who runs a grocery shop in the Mirpur Bihari camp.
Echoing the same, Mohammad Hafiz, a Bihari rickshaw puller, said he saw people from the government and other voluntary organizations provide food and financial aid to low income people of Dhaka.
“But no one cares about us,” he told this correspondent.
Another local, Shahjahan Ali, who is a house painter, said: “"We are very concerned about the coronavirus outbreak but at present we are unemployed. How can we protect ourselves if we cannot buy masks, sanitizers, and gloves which are a must to protect ourselves from the virus?
“No one, not the government nor the NGOs, came here to help us. We are living a life without any income and are just praying to Allah.”
Contacted, President of Bangladesh Muhajir Welfare and Development Committee (BMWDC), a forum formed by the Bihari community in Bangladesh, S K Mohammad Azim, said: “Sometimes we go outside the camp to collect relief, but this increases the chances of coronavirus spreading inside the camp.
“No one has visited us. A list for those who need aid was prepared by the local councillor. However, it has been a while and we haven’t received anything,”
“I expected that the government would take prompt action considering our dire situation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sadaqat Khan Fakku, president of the Urdu-Speaking Youth Rehabilitation Movement Bangladesh (USYRMB), said that survival is a fundamental right for everyone but the Bihari community now is feeling helpless.
“Rohingyas are regularly getting aid from different international organizations and the government, all the while always ignoring us,” he added.
“We want to live,” he pleaded.
According to BMWDC and USYRMB, some leaders and wealthy members of the Bihari community have taken personal initiatives to help those in need but such help is inadequate.
Leaders of this neglected community have urged the government to ensure that they get aid.
Local ward councillor Kazi Zahirul Islam Manik, said they have prepared a list to provide aid and soon selected Biharis will receive government assistance.