Livelihood of a Visually Impaired 9-Member Family Comes to a Halt

Helal Mia (65), from Rajghar village in Natai North Union of Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila, was born blind. In their 13-member family, including his children and grandchildren, 9 members are visually impaired. Their only source of income is singing at the municipal open stage (Pouro Muktomoncho) in the district town, where people give them financial help after hearing their songs. This music is what kept their lives and household running. Recently, the family fell into crisis after madrasa students prevented them from singing.

Last Wednesday afternoon, madrasa students held a protest march in the district town demanding the trial of the controversial Baul Abul Sarker. While returning from the march, they stopped Helal Mia and his family members from singing at the open stage. Since then, the family has remained at home in distress and has been living in inhumane conditions for four days.

During a visit to Helal Mia’s home on Saturday evening, it was learned that he goes to the municipal open stage every day except Friday at 10 AM. After singing for three hours, until 1 PM, he returns home with whatever he earns. As usual, around 12:45 PM last Wednesday, they were singing at the open stage with the whole family.

At that time, hearing the sound of the protest march, they stopped singing, packed their instruments, and sat quietly. Some madrasa students from the march came and stopped them from singing. They threatened to break their instruments if they continued. Fearing the threats, the family has not gone back to the open stage in four days.

Helal Mia said, “We are followers of Islam. We pray regularly. For 50 years, my family and I have sung in the Old Kachari area (now-defunct District Judge Court) and at the open stage. People listen to our songs and give whatever they wish. Some days we earn a thousand taka. Some days less, some days more. When it rains, we even have to pay for an autorickshaw to carry us home. We do not sing anything against religion, nor do we follow Baul philosophy.”

He said the incident has cut off his only livelihood. He also cannot do any other work. Unable to find a way out, he has informed some BNP leaders about the matter, hoping they will find a solution. He said, “We have no other means to survive. If we cannot sing, all 13 of us will die starving.”

Other visually impaired members of his family include his son Sadek Mia (45), daughter Khairunnesa (40), sons Faruk Mia (30), Tarek Mia (25), and Barek Mia (20); granddaughter Roksana (16), a Hafiz of the Qur'an; and grandsons Mostakim (11) and Mujahid (10).

Regarding the matter, Allama Mubarak Ullah, principal of Brahmanbaria Jamia Islamia Yunusia Madrasa and president of Hefazat-e-Islam’s district branch, said he knows nothing about the incident. The madrasa students did not inform him either. However, he said that a similar incident occurred about six months ago. At that time, Helal Mia was told to perform ghazals or hamd-naat instead of songs.