The fast-evolving political situation since October 28 has plunged the country into misery, and Dhaka’s lower-income individuals as well as students and the general public are bearing the brunt.
Ramzan Ali, a rickshaw puller living in Kamrangir Char with his family, outlined the stark contrast between before the BNP’s blockades started and now. Previously earning Tk800 to Tk1,000 daily, he now struggles to make more than Tk300 to Tk400. A significant part of his daily earnings, Tk120, goes to the owner of the rickshaw.
Babul Prasad, president of Dhaka Flower Traders Welfare Multipurpose Cooperative Society, emphasized the plight they face. Flower trade, largely seasonal from October to March, has been severely impacted. Their usual daily retail earnings of Tk50 lakh have dwindled to Tk20 lakh. This loss is colossal, leading to circumstances where even disposing of unsold, rotting flowers incurs expenses. The situation is unsustainable for both the farmers and businesses if this crisis continues.
Shahnaz, a bangle seller, detailed the financial hardship her family faces. As the sole earner, she used to make Tk1,000-Tk2,000 per day, but the current political situation has left her unable to afford even daily necessities. The financial strain has led to the discontinuation of her child’s education for the time being.
Bus drivers, vegetable vendors and day labourers have been hit the hardest, barely earning a third of what they used to.
Moreover, the ongoing blockade instils fear, especially with buses being torched frequently.
Unidentified individuals set two buses ablaze in Tejgaon of Dhaka and Adamjee EPZ of Narayanganj on Sunday night. Additionally, arsonists burned down seven buses in various areas of Dhaka, including Jatrabari, Gulistan, Gabtoli, near Notre Dame College, Rupnagar, Sutrapur and Mirpur, between 8pm on Saturday and 6am on Sunday, just before the commencement of the latest blockade.
