'There is no food-money at home, should I pay the installments now?'
September 28, 20244 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: 'I am working in garments and buying everything necessary for the family. I made all the furniture in the house with the money I saved from my job. Everything in the house has been reduced to ashes in the devastating fire. I have nothing but clothes to wear. Thanks to Allah, my husband and children are still there. But sir, I can't sleep in tension. I have taken money from Mainsh, I am withdrawing money from the bank to buy an auto-rickshaw for my son-in-law. This wave is over. There is no money for food at home, what should I pay in installments? Sir, what should we do?
Josna Begum, a tenant of that colony whose house was burnt down in a terrible fire in Sultan Colony of Mouchak Ambagan area of Kaliakair Upazila of Gazipur, was speaking in this way. While asking how he is doing now after the fire accident, he cried and said, "Sir, although I am poor, I have never harmed anyone in my life, I have not earned any dishonest money, neither has my son-in-law." Even after this, I never imagined that Allah would punish Amgore so much. It used to be good to get a job. But suddenly it was all over. If the rich people and the government don't give a little help, then I have no hope of staying left.
On Friday morning (September 27) when SonaliNews correspondent went to the burnt workers colony, not only Jochna, but many other government officials came running, ignoring the pouring rain.
The workers of various industrial factories living in two other colonies along with Sultan said that they went to work in their respective factories at 8 o'clock last Monday (September 23) like every day. At the end of the day, on the evening of that day, on his way home from the factory, he saw a terrible fire burning in his house.
Harez Mia works in a garment near the colony. He told Sonalinews that he has been working in garments for 10 years. He is running the family with the money earned from his job. He used to live here by getting a low-cost house rent in the colony. He bought furniture and goods for his house with the money saved from his job. All his furniture was burnt to ashes in the fire. Cash in the house was also burnt to ashes. He has no other possessions except the clothes he wears.
Like Josna, another victim, garment worker Rahima Akhter, said, "Sir, I was in the office." Suddenly in the evening, many people from the roof of the office told me that the fire was burning in the area of our house. Later I found out that there was a fire in my colony. Later I immediately took leave and started running towards home. A short distance from the house, I saw a terrible fire burning in my house like other tenants. Later I came with treatment and found the house burnt to ashes. Rahima also said, Sir, I have nothing but my clothes. Can't say more than that. I ask everyone for help.
Sultan Mia, the owner of Sultan Colony, said that he has a small tea shop. He has developed tin set colony with bank loan. 21 houses of his colony were burnt to ashes in the fire. He has become destitute like the tenant of the house. He said that it is not possible to turn around without any help from the government.
In this regard, Kaliakoi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kausar Ahmed said, I have visited the colony due to the fire accident. Tin set colony house burnt down. Most of the families in the colony work in various industries. They need food aid and blankets at this time. Upazila administration is working for this.
He also said that information will be sent to the district administration regarding city financial assistance to the residents of burnt houses.
It is to be noted that last Monday (September 23) around 7:30 in the evening, a terrible fire broke out in three labor colonies in Ambagan area of Mouchak in Kaliakair upazila. Later, four units of the fire service brought the fire under control after an hour and a half. 56 rooms of three colonies were burnt in the fire.
