Dressed
in shiny shirt tucked in black trousers, tie on his neck, shoe on his foot,
glasses on his eyes, and earphone on his ears. However, he is not any corporate
officer, but a spicy puffed-rice seller who sits in front of the Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujib Medical University in the capital’s Shahbag area. Zulhash Howlader
is a familiar face to pedestrians who take this path regularly.
He
has been selling spicy puffed-rice here for five years. His popularity is not
for the taste of his spicy puffed-rice but for his tidy dress up. So the
question is “Who is that tie-worn Zulhash, and why does he sale spicy
puffed-rice in this attire?” While searching, some information was found.
Zulhash
likes to remain neat and clear all time. It is his specialty. He keeps with him
soap, water and tissue. Zulhash said, his main goal is to get love of people
not doing business. So, he remains busy in representing himself in an
attractive way. In every month, he changes his outfit 3-4 times. He said, after
15 days, he will not be found in the present style.
There
is always earphone on Zulhash’s ears. When asked what type of song he likes to
listen, he said he listens to sad songs more. He also listens to Hindi songs.
But he listens to the speech of Bangabandhu more than any song. He said, it
feels good when he hears Bangabandhu’s speech. So, he listens to the speech
when his mind remains upset. If someone goes in front of his shop, he will
realize how much he loves Bangabandhu. An image of Bangabandhu is attached all
time in front of the sack of the puffed rice. A fresh flower garland always
hangs on the image.
According
to Zulhash, Bangladesh is moving forward rapidly. Noticeable improvements are
taking places in all sectors. Why will he stay behind in such a situation? His
slogan is ‘Bangladesh is going forward, why will Zulhash stay behind?’. So he
fits himself in tidy attire. He thinks himself a model of developed Bangladesh.
He said, ‘No work is inferior. So, whatever the work is, everyone should
present himself beautifully.’
Zulhash
enjoys the interest of people in him. He said with interest, people from
different TV channels and newspapers come to talk to him. Many newspapers have
written about him. Once, Obaidul Quader, the Minister of Road Transport and
Bridges, came to him to eat spicy puffed rice and happily gave him Tk. 1000.
His
paternal home is in the Dhankati union of Damudya upazila under Shariatpur
district. He came to Dhaka seeking livelihood. Zulhash resides in a rented
house behind Bashundhara City shopping mall at Panthapath. His family consists
of his nine-year-old handicapped son, Solaiman, a seven-year-old daughter,
Jeetni, and his wife. Every day he has to go out for work to earn food for his
five-member family.
He
sells puffed-rice worth around Tk. 1500-1800 every day. He has to manage his
family expenditure with this small income. Zulhash said, ‘The cost of the
family is not less. On top of that, I have to iron my shirt every day. I need
to maintain expensive dresses and manage the expenses of my daughter’s
education. So, I must go to work even when I am sick. How could I survive if I
do not go to work?’
Zulhash
Howlader feels proud of his identity as a child of a freedom fighter. Taslim
Howlader, father of Zulhash Howlader, participated in the freedom war at the
age of 20. Zulhash said, ‘My father is the only freedom fighter in our village.
At the time of war, he went to India and took training. He fought for our
country and freed it. It is a matter of great fortune for everyone to be a
child of such a father.’ For this reason, he always kept his father’s freedom
fighter certificate affixed to his puffed rice sack.
Zulhash’s
mother gets allowance regularly as a wife of freedom fighter. She also got
land. So, she does not have any demand for herself. Zulhash has only one demand
that is government will arrange any kind of work for the children of freedom
fighters. He said, ‘In 1971, most of the poor people fought for the country.
Today’s independent Bangladesh is the result of their sacrifice.’
Source-
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