Locals claim to see more beggars than before in Bogura

The low income people in Bogura and its surrounding districts are facing an extremely critical situation due to the increase in the prices of daily necessities. The working people of these areas are now disoriented. Due to the lack of balance between their income and expenses, these low-income people are leaving their respective areas and flocking to the relatively developed city of Bogura. Many of them are forced to choose begging, as a result of which the locals claim that there are more beggars in the city than before.

Local residents of the city said that beggars come to beg in different areas of the city by turns. Beggars go to one area only on a certain day. Earlier on certain days, five to six beggars used to come to each house. Their number has increased in a month. At present around 10-15 beggars are seen coming.

Shamim Hossain, a resident of Jora village in Shajahanpur upazila, said that beggars come to his area every Wednesday. The number of beggars has increased twice than before.

Rikta Begum, a resident of Fultala area of ​​ward number 13 of Bogura municipality, said that beggars came to her area on Tuesday. Their number has gone more than double compared to the previous month. It is not possible to help so many people at once.

Not only that, there are more beggars on the streets than before. People in the area are claiming that they are holding pedestrians and asking for help, as a result of which many people are in a state of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, they are also seen at the entrance of various public and private offices. A significant number of beggars can be seen in different streets of the city. While talking with at least 15 of them, including Abdul Latif, Tofazzal Hossain and Hamida Bibi, it was learned that they are residents of Gaibandha and Rangpur and are making a living by begging in Bogura.

They said, more people have increased in their profession than before. Many people in the town and surrounding districts have taken up begging as a new profession.

Two beggars named Morjina Begum and Amuni Bibi are seen standing in front of Banani Sonar Desh Hotel. Both of them are residents of Gabtali upazila of Bogra.

They said that earlier they used to work in other people's houses and run their families. But, the income in this profession is not enough to support the family at present. Therefore they took begging as a profession.

When asked about the relatively high number of beggars in the town, Mustafa Kamal, Assistant Professor of Social Science Department of Bogura Government Azizul Haque College, told Views Bangladesh that one of the reasons for the increase in the number of beggars is the sudden hike in the prices of daily commodities. Bogura, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram are flood affected areas in North Bengal. Many people have lost employment or sources of income due to the floods. People of North Bengal do not get much help from the whole country when they fall into natural calamities. This matter has been clearly observed. Because of this, many have taken begging as a profession in order to save their lives.

He also said that many people work in other people's houses or are daily labourers. With their income, the family cannot be maintained as before. For this reason, many people go to the neighbouring districts to beg when they have time or do not have work.