A mother had to resort to selling her hair to buy food and milk for her two small children, with her youngest just 18-months-old.
The tragic turn in Sathi Begum’s life came after she and her husband lost their livelihoods following the nationwide shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic.
Sathi and her family came to Dhaka from Mymensingh some four months ago in search of work and settled down in a shanty at the Bank Colony area of Savar after living in Mirpur for some time. She started working as a domestic help while her husband became a day labourer.
Losing their jobs to the shutdown, the family’s savings dried up soon and they could not find food to eat for two days.
“After going hungry for two days, I knocked several doors for help. But, no one answered,” said the distressed mother.
She also could not manage to collect relief from the government as she was new to the area.
Later, Sathi met a hawker who offered her Tk400 for her hair. She readily agreed.
“He (hawker) first offered me Tk400. But, he left after paying only Tk180. I took the money and bought one kilogram of rice and milk for my children,” she added.
Contacted, Savar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mahfuz said he was unaware of the incident and expressed grief over the family’s plight.
He also said relief materials will be provided to the family as early as possible.
