Syed Shemul Parvez :
Many people lost their jobs due to the ongoing countrywide lockdown. Consequently they are now on the street and looking for work.
Some people are also changing their profession for survival. Economists, therefore, said that the lockdown requires an integrated planning, keeping mind the needs of the underprivileged people.
Nazma Begum came to the capital city from Madhupur a decade ago in search of livelihood.
She had flower business in the posh area. But she is now selling masks on the sidewalk with her minor girl Dolon.
Nazma Begum said, ‘I used to sell flowers. All went down due to corona and lockdown.’
After staying couple of days in the room, I saw that the family could not go without earning. Then I started selling masks in the street. But it’s not enough against my family cost, she added.
There are many such stories like Nazma who are on the streets of the capital city jobless. Some used to work as masons, others as railway station porters or van drivers.
But nowadays the identity of all of them is unemployed.
One victim painter said, ‘I used to paint and now my life is without color. I see all the darkness in my eyes!’ Amir Hossain, a teen boy worked in a small tea stall in city’s Lalbagh area. But he is now completely unemployed as tea stall is closed due to strict lockdown across the country.
In this circumstance, economists advised the government to consider the livelihood of marginalized people.
Economist Nazneen Ahmed said, “Lower middle class people should be considered before giving a strict lockdown across the country.”
Many have lost their jobs before and now they are trying to get back to work.
So government has to think about how to cooperate these unemployed victims, she added.
Meanwhile, people who have lost their jobs are demanding alternative employment keeping mind the issue of hygiene.
