Editorial
Living dangerously
Moral of the horrific abode needs heeding
Just how desperate cliffhanger living for the low income groups has become was graphically depicted in a report titled 'House of horror' front-paged in our yesterday's issue. The three-storey tenuous structure of a living quarter cobbled with stray metallic sheets fronting out around wooden-cum-bamboo frame of sorts at Kamalbagh in the capital is a study in dangerous living.
Alternatively it is an example of resilient and courageous living. Even it may be a glimpse of prefab, ingenious housing. That is where the state could provide inexpensive materials for them to raise a structure for living.
At least, they are not living in slums, one could say in an attempted fairness to the enterprise. But who is making capital out of the enterprise, anyway? Surely it is an exploitative mill for the self-proclaimed owner and manager of the project. Three hundred souls belonging to 50 families including 100 single workingmen make the rabbits-of-a-warren. The wobbly structure is not only a danger in itself, unauthorised electric connections woven by interlacing wiring is also susceptible to short-circuiting and resultant fire.
In fact, this story should be regarded as eye-opener to many such structures in different shapes and sizes waiting to be discovered. Indeed the issue of low cost housing for the poor and low income groups associated with various services being provided to city dwellers and factories has yet to draw the attention of the government. It is the obligation of the state to provide shelter to its citizens; and the poorer they are, the stronger their claim to roof overhead. It must be remembered that people driven by landlessness, lack of employment and river erosion induced pauperisation migrate to the capital city. Their concerns must be integrated into the urbanisation process in which they are marginalised on top of the rural marginalisation that landed them in the city in the first place. This is a raw deal.
As human beings they are entitled to minimally safe living conditions. And taking into account their contribution to the service sector, they deserve more than that.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
An alarming report on children’s exposure to climate risks
19 June 2026, 19:07 PM
Editorial
Why is safe water inaccessible for millions despite rising spending?
19 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
BB must confront bad loans’ true scale
18 June 2026, 18:38 PM
Editorial
Dolphin deaths must be investigated
18 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
Weak policing fuelling rise in crimes
17 June 2026, 18:18 PM
Editorial
Comments