Global catastrophe and our obligations

Intense sunlight of summer is flickering all around. The temperature is 36 degrees while I am waiting this. When I looked at the sky, I felt an irritating sensation in the sensitive part of the eye. The life of common people have become hectic due to this fierce heat of the month of Boishakh. On top of that the holy month of Ramadan, the biggest religious pursuit of Muslims has started few days ago. Due to the long length of days at this time of year, it is very difficult for Muslims to fast. This hardship doubled due to the thirst for water in the intense heat of sun. It rains naturally at this time of the year but not so much this year. The scorching heat has been tied to the Muslim fasting and the Corona virus pandemic situation, which has led to a disaster across the country.

Everyone is more or less impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic situation and we are not out of it either. But those in the so-called upper grades of society who have enough bank balances and properties are actually a little bit more comfortable situation than others. So who are the most vulnerable position in this unavoidable situation? There is no disagreement that the lower class people are the main victims and it is as clear as daylight. That class people could be an employee, a day laborer or a farmer; this coronavirus pandemic has actually caused a great deal of damage to all of them.

This catastrophe is even more malignant for private sector employees. Millions of people have lost their jobs since the start of the coronavirus last year. Thousands of mill factories have closed. Finally, which are still open are in a great menace due to the newly imposed lockdown in the maximum part of the world. Those who are still running their operations with the difficulties are cutting down the salaries of the employees and festival bonus. This is the scenario of the last year and this year going to be more depressing year for the employees.

For small and medium entrepreneurs, the damage caused by this coronavirus is irreparable. There is a class of businessmen in our country who do festival-centric business every year. The festivals are included but not limited to Eid, Pohela Boishakh or Puja. For example, small traders in garments and textiles only make a year-round income from the sale of this festival-centric business. And with that money, the whole year shop rent and workers’s salary are paid and rest of the months the only survives and wait for the next year festival. But with the continuous lockdown from last two years, they have not been able to do any business that is quite unfortunate. As a result, they are now facing terrible losses and are living in dire straits.

Now the question is how these lower and lower middle class people will survive. There could be one solution that those who are rich class if they help the poor. Now, this is the month of Ramadan, the greatest time for Muslims to extend their hands to the poor to get the blessings from almighty. If their money can reach to the real poor people, then at least they will be able to recover from current crisis. That is what we can expect from the upper class people of the society to support the humanity.