Hard days for jobless day-labourers in three dists
Our Correspondent, Rangpur
Thousands of unemployed day labourers are coming to district towns in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram in search of job, but going back homes frustrated. This is due to lack of work in the ongoing lean period. According to record of the Statistical Bureau, 95 per cent of poor people in the districts are agricultural labourers. They have become jobless because of delay in maturing transplanted aman and cultivation in rabi (winter) crops due to moister in the fields. They are passing their days unfed or half-fed. During previous years these people used to become jobless since late October to early December, but this year the situation is quite different. They have become jobless from mid-September. This is because of shortage of cash due to effect of flood, according to a source in the Relief and Rehabilitation Office, Rangpur. Labourers were employed each year to uproot weeds, giving fertiliser and spreading pesticides, but this year no labourer could be employed. Sharp price-hike of rice in the districts has aggravated the situation. Rice is now being sold between Tk 18 to 20 in the districts. Meanwhile, several hundreds of landless people under the banner of Rangpur Bhumihin Samity led by the President of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Anwar Hossen Bablu brought out a procession in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) on Tuesday. They also held a demonstration in the afternoon demanding official initiative for launching different programmes like Food for Work Programme, Money for Work Programme and Test Relief Programmes immediately. About 10 lakh people in nine upazilas in Kurigram have become jobless, said Mukul, Chairman of Zorgachh union in Ulipur uapzila The situation is worse in Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas. However, about 1,50,500 VGF cards were issued in Kurigram, 1,07,500 VGF cards were issued in Rangpur and 88,500 VGF cards were issued in Lalmonirhat in September. Cardholders got 10 kg of rice each in the month, but they are yet to get rice for the month of October. It is alleged that two third ultra poor people in Kurigram district could not be brought under VGF programme. A large number of poor people might have been saved from starvation by launching Test Relief Programme, Food for Work Programme and Money for Work Programme immediately, otherwise the situation might go beyond control.
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