ZCZC
BSS-11
CHAR-EID FEVER (with picture)
Improved living standard creates Eid fever in char areas
RANGPUR, May 25, 2019 (BSS) – Char people are now preparing to celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr festivity as an Eid fever prevails in char villages of Rangpur
region following their improved living standard.
Even a decade ago, char people of all five districts of Rangpur region
had to live in untold miseries and struggle for survival for lack of job and
employment.
Besides, social curses like child marriage, dowry and repression on
women along with malnutrition and lack of pure drinking water and hygienic
sanitation had made their life miserable.
Officials, experts and public representatives said char people have come
out of vicious cycle of poverty with assistance of the government and NGOs in
last ten years to lead better life.
“An Eid excitement has gripped char people following massive government
and NGO interventions improving their living standard,” said Chairman of
Rangpur-based research organisation ‘Northbengal Institute of Development
Studies’ Dr Syed Samsuzzaman.
A considerable change took place in socioeconomic conditions of char
people following implementation of the government’s massive social safety-net
and other programmes and developments by other organisations.
“Many char people have achieved self-reliance with GO-NGO assistance and
are busy in purchasing clothes and other Eid items to celebrate the Eid-ul-
Fitr festivity which was unimaginable for them even a decade ago,” Dr
Samsuzzaman added.
Chairman of Nohali union in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur Abul Kalam
Azad Titul said many char people living on the Teesta riverbed in the union
are purchasing clothes and other Eid items for their family members.
“It has become possible for char people following their economic
progress as a result of successful implementation of massive social safety-
net and other programmes of the government in last ten years,” Titul added.
Chairman of Chilmari Sadar union Boytul Haque Mandal in Kurigram said
many char people are preparing to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity
following their socioeconomic development.
Chilmari upazila chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, said thousands
of people living in over 200 char villages in Rangpur region are now
preparing to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity after winning vicious cycle
of poverty.
“Char people are excited to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity
following successful implementation of various effective programmes by the
present government in last ten years improving their socioeconomic
conditions,” Sarker added.
“Many char people are purchasing Eid clothes and other item at Chilmari
Bazar and different markets of Kurigram district town to celebrate the Eid-
ul-Fitr festivity,” he said.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh, an
NGO, Md. Mamunur Rashid said char people are purchasing clothes and other
goods to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity.
“Many char people have changed their fortune through various income
generating activities getting government assistance under massive social
safety-net programmes, NGOs and donor agencies in last ten years,” Rashid
added.
Editor of the Weekly Juger Khabar, published from Chilmari in Kurigram,
SM Nurul Amin Sarkar said “An Eid fever is prevailing in char areas where
people are preparing to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr, though their days were
miserable a decade ago.”
Char people Abdur Razzaque, Mahbub Alam and Morsheda Khatun of village
Paschim Mohipur in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said they already purchased
Eid clothes and other items for their family members to celebrate the Eid
festivity.
“With various assistance of the government and NGOs, we have achieved
self-reliance through animal husbandry, poultry, dairy, homestead gardening
and other agri-activities in last ten years to celebrate the Eid festivity,”
said Kochhim Uddin of the village.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Director (Local Government) Md. Zakir Hossain
said the government’s massive social safety-net activities played key role in
cutting poverty from char villages as elsewhere in Rangpur region.
“As a result of their continuous progress, char people are leading
improved life by achieving self-reliance and celebrating all festivities like
Eid-ul-Fitr like those in mainland,” Hossain added.
BSS/SPL/MI/FI/ 1505 hrs