JHALAKATHI: Babul is now better than the earlier risk of death. But he is not in a position to return to his country. Even if he returns to Bangladesh, it will be tough for his father Saheb Ali of Putiakhali village under Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi district to keep his second son Babul, who sustained burn injuries, alive.
On Monday, current reporter met Shaheb Ali at Rajapur by-pass intersection. Next we traveled to Saheb Ali’s house in Putiakhali by a battery-run auto-rickshaw. The house is located at a very remote place where it is not possible to enter without putting off shoes.
The sexagenarian Shaheb Ali has sold out six kathas of land adjacent to his house. He started wailing saying that his much valuable land was sold for only TK72,000. He owns a very old semi-pucca tin shed house where no maintenance was done for a long time.
Babul fell off from a construction site in Johor Bahru in Malaysia in 2014 during welding. Around 40 percent of his body sustained burn injuries. Babul is now recovering with the help of a Chinese, Lee Yong Kee (LYK). Teneganita, an Ngo working in Malaysia for the welfare of the migrants, had also helped Babul in his struggle for survival.
The dwellers of Putiakhali village arranged the marriage of two orphans -- Shaheb Ali and Fatema. Shaheb was a farm laborer. While talking to Babul’s mother Fatema, she told banglanews that their first son read up to class-X. Later, he got married and started living separately. The eldest daughter Majeda was married in the nearby village.
Second son Babul could not proceed after class-II while the third son, who is mentally retarded, could not go to the school.
Babul was also a day laborer. He learnt driving while working as a helper of Tempoo, a locally made vehicle. At this time, the owner of Tempoo gave him the proposal to go to Malaysia. But Fatema could not rely upon it.
After a few days, Shaheb Ali’s distant cousin Chand Mia informed that a ‘Calling Visa’ is available. But they will have to spend Tk2.50-lakh to procure it. With hope of better life the whole family started with full strength to arrange the money.
Shaheb Ali informed that he sold out the earlier mentioned six kathas of land at Tk72,000. He sold his four kathas farm land at Tk40,000. He also took lone of Tk25,000 from a lady in his village at a high interest rate. He had to repay her Tk40,000 in the next 10 months. He mortgaged his house to Rajapur branch of Sonali Bank for a loan Tk10,000. Besides, he took loan of Tk70,000 from Chand Mia.
But trouble arises though money was arranged. Chand Mia informed that Babul has reached Malaysia though Babul was working at Boubazar. Reaching Malaysia after five months, Babul realized that the agent did not keep words. He was engaged as construction laborer instead of as a driver.
Babul went to Malaysia in 2012. He earned legally in the first year. During this time, the family repaid most of their loan except the sold out land.
Fatema informed that Babul used to phone them occasionally. She also said Babul informed them that breaching the contract the agent had employed as a construction worker. The earnings he made from the job were not enough after making his personal expenditure.
But misfortune fell on him when he changed his workplace to earn more money. He became illegal. During this time, the accident occurred. The whole family fell into troubled water. From the earnings of Saheb Ali and Forkan they repaid some small portions of loans.
Fatema started crying to get back her son, Babul, who has been sheltered by Tenaganita. But the program officer of Tenaganita Ashiqur Rahman told banglanews that the health condition of Babul is not fit to return to his country.
He also said that he visited Babul’s house. “If he is brought in a wheel chair, the wheel chair cannot be entered into their house. Moreover, there is no electricity while Babul is now being kept in all time air conditioned room,” he added.
Besides, the monthly treatment cost is Tk30,000-40,000 which his family cannot bear, he added.
The dream which the family once dreamt about Malaysia has now vanished. The family is now completely distressed by losing their land and thinking about the uncertain condition of their son in a foreign land.
BDST: 0952 HRS, SEP 29, 2015
Shahjahan/SR
