Mohammad Saiful Islam
“Huge wind with rain broke our house. Domestic animals and birds died, land sank in water. There was no job, no financial assistance and we have come to Dhaka selling our land.’’ This is the initial speech of Abdul Hai, a 48 years old cake seller. He lives in Porabosti of Kallayanpur in Dhaka. He has a big family with three sons and three daughters. Before AILA they lived in Chorkossopia village of Lalmohon thana in Bhola district.
He told, “My income was sound before AILA. I pulled rickshaw and cultivated vegetables in others land which were my good sources of income.”
He also told, “Now, it is difficult to survive with selling winter cake. My one son and one daughter have started to work in garments to support my big family with eight members.”
He added, “All of my children were going to primary and high school before AILA. But now only two children go to BRAC School and others are becoming illiterate. It is impossible to pay Tk. 3000 or Tk. 2000 for the admission of each child in any reputed school in Dhaka.”
He is concerned about his next income source after winter season and told, “My income is quite sufficient in this winter season selling winter cake but after this season, I have to do anything else.”
His wife told with frustration, “Before you, many journalists came to us but there was no output. Nobody has done anything for us.”
Abdul Hai complains that, “Aids came to out village but not to our hand. Chairman Fazlu and Member Salim of Chorkossopia village took every thing. We have got only 3kgs rice yet from aid. Cows of aid were eaten by political leaders. We tried to protest but it was very difficult. We were threatened by these leaders and chairman. They will kill us, burn our house, take our young girls to crops land to rape if we do anything against them. We would not come to Dhaka if we could get some financial support in village to do something there.”
He told, “We have come in Dhaka since many days but did not get any financial support yet. I pay Tk. 600 house rent, Tk.200 electricity bill and Tk. 100 water bill. Rest of the money is not sufficient for us to consume food.”
Abdul Hai wants shelter from the government so that he can maintain a better life with his family.
Climate funds from international agencies are quite enough but poorly managed for political interference. Thus, climate funds are not going to the ultimate climate change victims. It is very important to manage the funds properly so that the victims become the ultimate beneficiaries. Otherwise, these climate funds will not be fruitful.
