Zahid Rakib: Lockdown has increased in the country to prevent the spread of corona. The situation of stopping every thing the day laborers of the city have become the most helpless, no work. The lockdown has affected their daily lives. Happy families, once low-income, are now living in uncertainty. Fell into the super-financial crisis. It is also uncertain how long it will take for such a terrible crisis to return to normal.

The number of unemployed people seems to be increasing. Those who used to live in any other profession. Corona has made their lives chaotic. Some have lost their jobs and are sending their families to the village to look for work.

It is learned that on Friday (August 7) ​​at Lockdown in the capital's Mohakhali Labor Hat, they were talking to these people who were working on the spot. Although the number of laborers increased on such days, their workplaces did not increase.

Labor market is held every day by the railway gate of Mohakhali. And in this market we talk with Kabir Hossain who works as a mason. Kabir Hossain lives in a seven-storey slum. Couldn't work anywhere for a day in a long lockdown. For 20 years, he has been sitting in this labor market from 6 am. He used to work somewhere every day before Lockdown.

Alam, another worker next to him, said that if he had stood in such places before, the contractors would have taken him on a daily contract for 800-1000 rupees. But now no contractor is starting work because of Corona. As a result, many masons and helpers like them have become unemployed.

Shahjahan Mia said, there was no work before Eid, I could not eat any food for two days. I have somehow survived by borrowing from other people. From the lockdown we all come in the morning and wait until noon. If he doesn't get a job, he leaves again.

All those who come to this labor market in Mohakhali are residents of seven-storey slums. They complained that none of them received any relief from the government.

Sociologists say Corona has been in the situation for more than a year and a half. He lost his livelihood in a long lockdown last year. The poverty rate, which was 20 percent at the end of 2019, has risen to 40-41 percent. That means the number of poor people has almost doubled. Low-income people no longer have the ability to take on new responsibilities.

The government has a major role in the situation, said Professor of the Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka. Nehal Karim.

He said the government should co-operate with the poor people who have been affected by the lockdown. If such an initiative is not taken, more inequality will increase in the society and at the same time the number of poor in the country will increase.

Sun News / FAR