Beggars and vehicles
Photo: flickr.com
In the streets of Dhaka city private cars and beggars have increased in huge numbers. The common increase of private cars and beggars is synonymous which may have some meaning from economic point of view. Private cars have increased traffic jam and beggars also cause traffic jam. But here the point of interest is beggars not private cars. The beggars are poor but all poor are not beggars. There are professional beggars too. Women beggars with babies are common. Some people pretending to be pir/fakir are also found begging. Children are also engaged in begging. Foreigners visiting the country fall prey to the beggars. There are beggars everywhere round the clock. It is often seen that crippled beggars are lying on footpaths suffering from cancer, leprosy, malignant tumour, swollen, protruded eyes etc. Religious places like mosques and mazars are full of beggars. During prayer time men, women and children remain awaiting outside for begging while devotees are praying inside the mosque, as if beggars need not pray. There is also no question about men and women begging together. It appears that beggars need not be worried about heaven and hell. In Islam begging is discouraged, though it particularly encourages helping poor people for their well-being. But I find that nothing is advised from the mosque discouraging begging. About 40% of the people of the country leave below poverty line. Poor people become beggars due to social injustice, natural calamities, river erosion, unemployment, failure of the govt. and over and above non-fulfilment of the constitutional right to have living and livelihood ensured for all people of the country. We see that the government is giving huge subsidy for electricity and gas to the able citizens whereas the poor, especially the beggars, are beyond the reach of these facilities. They deserve a share of what is spent for the well being of the people. Begging must come to an end.
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