Father gone, the van bought on loan also stolen — a disabled mother and son left helpless

Sixteen-year-old Swapan Mahmud, who lives with a disability, had taken charge of his family three years ago after losing his father. He gave up his studies and drove a motorised van, and what he earned each day kept his disabled mother and younger sister going. But about two and a half months ago, that van — the family's only means of earning — was stolen. Since then, the three-member family has been living in extreme hardship.

It is learnt that about three years ago, his father, a day labourer, died of heart disease. After that, 16-year-old Swapan stopped studying and took charge of the family. He has no strength in his left leg and lives with cerebral palsy. Swapan cannot do any heavy work.

Swapan's mother Josna Khatun is also physically disabled. She had bought him a motorised van by borrowing money and taking a loan. Driving the van, Swapan used to earn 250 to 300 taka a day. That somehow kept the family going — his physically disabled mother Josna Khatun, her physically disabled son Swapan Mahmud, and her nine-year-old daughter Maria.

But about two and a half months ago, the van — their only means of livelihood — was stolen from their own home. They searched in many places but found no trace of it. Having lost the van, the helpless family is now living in miserable conditions.

On Sunday (8 November), visiting their home in the Uttar Chandpur Bazar area of Jaduboyra union, on the Lahinipara-Sandiyara GK Khal road in Kumarkhali, one sees a small tin shed on a tiny plot beside the road. On the small veranda of the house, disabled Josna Khatun was sitting with her two children.

In a tearful voice, physically disabled Josna Khatun said, "My husband died of a stroke three years ago. I had bought my son a van. That van has been stolen. We pass our days without eating. How will I manage now with two children? I am disabled. My son is also disabled. We cannot do heavy work. I never imagined such days would come after my husband died. I am destitute. My children and I cannot live properly."

Josna Khatun said a van costs 70,000 to 80,000 taka. "But where will I get so much money? Neighbours and relatives sometimes give rice and lentils, sometimes cooked food. That is how we survive. If someone bought us a van, we could eat and live."

At that time, physically disabled teenager Swapan Mahmud said, "My father died when I was in class six. Then, to run the family, I stopped studying and started driving a van. I used to earn 250 to 300 taka a day. With that I somehow fed my mother and sister. But that too (the van) has been stolen. Now we somehow survive by asking around. I am disabled. I cannot do heavy work. If I had a van, I could earn and eat again."

Neighbour and reserved women member of Jaduboyra Union Parishad, Morium Khatun, said the family is very poor and helpless. Since losing the van, they have been living in inhuman conditions. Whatever people give them to eat, the three somehow pass their days with it. They are barely surviving. "If someone gave them a van, the family would survive."

Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Raisul Islam said, "I have come to know about this through you. The theft of the disabled teenager's van is extremely sad. If a written application is submitted, the upazila parishad will extend all possible cooperation — whether by giving a van or making some other arrangement."