-What happened ?
-I was going along the rail line. It was very dark in the area for the load shading. Two young man came to me. They hit me in the face and body, and took all my money.
-How much money you had?
-280 tk. 200 was my investment, and 80 tk profit. Everyday I purchase food for my family with the profit, and keep my investment. What will I do now? How will I buy food for my family? My whole body is aching…
-What’s your name?
-Moinul.
-Where are you from?
-Gaibandha.
-Which village?
-Durgapur. It’s on Polashbari thana.
-Where do you live?
-The other side of the river - Bandar.
-How is the house?
-It’s made of tin.
-How much is the rent?
-400 tk per month.
-Who do you have at home?
-My mother and 2 sisters.
-What does your father do?
-He has expired.
-When?
-2 Years ago.
-How did he die?
-Died in cold. He was a fisherman. He used to catch fish in the river and sell in the market. He got asthma for continuously wetting in the water and died 2 years ago.
-What about your mother?
-She works at other peoples home.
-And your sisters?
-They are of 8 and 6 years of old. I am the elder.
-When have you arrived at Narayanganj?
-1 month ago.
-How did you come here?
-My mother brought me here.
-I don’t understand..!
-Some people from my village live here. After the death of my father, they told my mother to come here for work. She then came to work here. Last month she bought me here.
-What was your profession there?
-I was a rickshaw haler. But the income was not sufficient there. So I came here and selling fried peanut. My mother gave me 200 tk to start the business.
-How was your income here?
-Usually 50 to 150 tk.
-How was the incident happened today?
-I was selling along the way beside the rail line. There was dark there for the load shading. Suddenly these 2 people came and attacked me. They were telling - “we need money to purchase drugs”. They took everything from me. You should not go there in dark…but I didn’t care…
-Will you recognise them if see them again?
-Yes, I will. They are of 20/22 years of age. Not very heavy built. Ooh..what Will happen to me now? How will I purchase food for tonight?…They even taken the investment from me…
(Moinul was crying at a market with a basket in head, which is usually used to sell fried peanut. People were asking him questions and giving some money. Being curious, the writer called him aside and took the interview. He is about 16/17 years of age. For not having flash in the camera, it was not possible to take a more clear photograph of him.)
Very sad!
Did the writer help him financially?