Life in the lockdown

The global pandemic of Covid 19 has had governments around the world, including ours imposing quarantines and enforcing social distancing in the interests of flattening the curve of infections. These restrictions have had different implications for different socio-economic groups. For the working class, the lockdown has been crueller than the threat of the disease. Here are some stories.

Abdul Hossain is a dispensary owner and resident of Korail slum. He says that sales have been down since everyone is staying home, and the supplies of a lot of necessary medicines is running low | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Eight months pregnant Nargis Begum runs a refrigerator service shop in Korail. She hasnu2019t had any customers in 25 days due to the lockdown | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Sakhina Begum, brain stroke survivor, sits outside her home in Korail, her husband in attendance | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Rafiq, a driver by profession, sits idle in his home in Korail. He has had no work in 25 days since the Coronavirus outbreak | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Rahima used to work at the Crystal Diagnostics Centre. She was laid off without pay and without notice in March, at the onset of the outbreak. She spends her days worrying about how she will manage rent and the expenses of her family, who lives with her | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Moina Dewan is a rickshaw puller who lives with his family of six in Korail. On some days, his health prevents him from working, and his son pulls the rickshaw to support the family. Neither father nor son have had any customers for weeks, and they have not received any relief from the government so far. u2018If this continues, we will die of hungeru2019 he says | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Abdul Jabbar lives in the Korail slum with his wife and only child. Unemployed on health grounds, he is supported by the income of his child, who has not had work for the past 20 days | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Rahida lives with her son in the Korail slum. She used to work as a housemaid, but was laid off without wages on March 26 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Najmul Islam and Khaiirul Islam are rickshaw pullers plying in Korail and Mohakhali. They have not had any customers since the Coronavirus outbreak | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Palash works as a waiter at a restaurant in Kalachandpur. He was unable to go to his village when the holidays were announced | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Abdul Ahad, a restaurant owner in Kalachandpur said u2018We havenu2019t had many customers, and I havenu2019t been able to sell my food through delivery services,u201d adding that he was worried about rent, which his landlord has been demanding | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune