Those who move to live
Shakil (25) and Samta (22) are a gypsy couple. Together with their child and two more families, the gypsy troupe of 11 travel from one area to another, never staying in one place for long. Locally known as "Jajabars", they earn their bread by collecting and selling valuable items lost in rivers, ponds, and canals.
However, due to the ongoing lockdown, their lives have ground to a halt. Not only are they finding it hard to carry out their vocation, they're also stuck at Barishal's Kasipur area, with nowhere to move to as public transportation is suspended.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Movement is a key part of the "Jajabar" identity; without it, the three gypsy families are passing their days in great anxiety.
Two months ago they came to Barishal in hopes of making a living for a couple of months, Shakil told this correspondent recently during a visit to the area.
As Barishal is a riverine area, the skilled gypsies could salvage a lot of valuables from its water, and the first few days went by comfortably. But as soon as the lockdown hit, the tide turned against them.
They now want to return to their community at Munshiganj's Munshir haat area, right beside the Padma. But with little money left, travel seems to be a distant dream, as they struggle to arrange for even a day's meal.
"We do not know what tomorrow is going to look like," Shakil said. "I only have a little money left. Under normal circumstances, we sometimes do labour work to get by. But the situation is so complicated now that even that's not possible anymore."
Along with the adults, the troupe consists of five children. With no way to feed even the children, all the families want now is to go back to Munshiganj. "I don't know when, I don't know how, but we just want to go back," Shakil could barely conceal his helplessness.
Fortunately, at least some respite is on its way for the gypsy families, as the local administration seems to have taken heed of their situation. Mosharef Hossain, Barishal Sadar UNO, said they are taking initiatives to deliver food to the families.