A family that cannot see

Locally, they are known as “Kanagushti” - or a family of the blind, a social stigma that they have to carry with them every day along with the struggles caused by their conditions. Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether the blindness was only hereditary, or if it was the result of any other hidden medical condition. The family itself claims that a mysterious illness causes them to lose their eyesights; doctors, however, have so far been unable to pinpoint the reason why so many in a family share the common condition. The family members are all descendants of late Arzu Ali, who was the first known person in the family to suffer from visual impairment. His children Khurshid Ali, 75, daughter Joytera, 65, are also blind along with many other members of their own families. Not all of them, however, are visually impaired from birth; many of them mysteriously became blind as they aged – more specifically around the time they got married. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Khurshid Ali said the problem of visual impairment runs in the family. His father had gradually gone blind, while three of his own children share the same fate, said Khurshid. Joytera and her husband are both visually impaired, along with three of their sons and daughters as well as one grandchild. Khurshid's paternal cousin Abdun Nur has five visually impaired people in his own family, while another paternal cousin Tohur Ali's family also has three blind persons. Tera Mia, a schoolteacher in the village, said many members of that family had mysteriously started losing their eyesights once they got married. The initial sign of blindness started with headaches while a white layer enveloped their eyes gradually. Tera Mia said he took several of the family members to different eye doctors in Sylhet; but no one was able to diagnose the real reason. He added that many people in the area were prejudiced against the family and never socially interacted with them. Dr Moshahid Thakur, the head of Jalalabad Ragib-Rabeya Medical College Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune that a genetic anomaly often causes physical disabilities in a family. The main reasons behind blindness in a poor community were measles and the deficiency of vitamin A, the doctor said. On many cases local medicines, inflammation in a newborn's eyes, and treatment from quacks led to blindness as well, he added. Dr Moshahid said problems in the central nervous system, improper growth and hereditary illnesses might also be reasons behind the family's troubles. Asked whether the family received any disability or elderly benefits from the government, Khurshid's son Ansar Mia – who is also blind – said local representatives never respond to requests of aid. Different NGOs and media outlets also often come to collect the family's details, but never return with help, Ansar said. The local Ichhakolos union's newly elected Chairman Kuti Mia said Khurshid's family could not be helped in the past because there was not enough government relief. Kuti told the Dhaka Tribune that in the future, he would try to provide the family with disability and elderly benefits.