After losing two legs and six family members in the deadliest Rana Plaza tragedy, 20-year-old Rebeka Begum passed the Eid-ul-Azha lying on a bed at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) alone.
“Eid? Eid has not been an occasion to rejoice, neither has it brought any patch of happiness for me since the accident. It is rather a day when I particularly know that everybody is celebrating outside while I am stranded inside this hospital alone,” says Rebeka.
Rebeka lost her mother, grandmother, two cousins and an aunt in the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Savar this year, an incident considered the deadliest disaster in the history of the garment industry in the country.
“The bodies of my mother, grandmother, one cousin and an aunt could not be traced. We received the headless body of one of my cousin brothers,” said a teary Rebeka.
Rebeka bought chicken for herself on Eid as she found the quality of food provided by the hospital way below the mark. This was all she did to celebrate Eid.
“I wish my mother was here,” said Rebeka with a sigh.
Her husband, who is a mason, was residing at their native village on Eid day. “No!” Rebeka uttered the word firmly when asked if anyone from the BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) came to visit her on Eid.
Taking a few moments to let her eyes dry, she continued: “I have not received any compensation from them [garment owners] yet. I guess I am lucky. At least, I received my salary. Neither me nor my relatives received the honorariums of my six family members who died in the collapse.” “I wish someone at least visits me time to time just to talk for few minutes. This accident has taught me to identify who is a real well-wisher and who is just whimsical.”
“People jump off to help whenever there is an accident. They think that as human beings it is their duty to help the victims. But I wish they could hold on to the spirit as time passes by,” she expressed her realisation after more than five months into the incident.
“Apa [sister], please do not think that I am asking for some kind of financial help by saying my observations. I do not want money, goods, dresses or any material thing. I would have really appreciated if some people could come and visit me time to time.
“Six months have passed. No financial help is enough when you are alone and all you want is to talk with someone,” Rebeka adds with a sad smile on her face.
Rebeka, whose left leg was amputated from her thigh and right leg from under her knee, said: “All I am looking forward to now is to learn to walk again. Doctors said they would give me at least one artificial leg. I will get an artificial right leg. They, however, are not yet sure if my body could adapt an artificial left leg.”
“If I can walk, I will be able to work. Thus, I will survive with dignity,” said Rebeka, an optimist survivor despite of the prolonged sufferings.
The collapse of the eight-storey building Rana Plaza, where five garment factories were located, claimed at least 1,132 lives on April 24. A massive drive went on for 20 days that rescued 2,438 people from the debris. Relatives of the victims claim that hundreds of people are still missing.
