RANGPUR, April 20, 2023 (BSS) - Despite the global crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine War following the Covid-19 pandemic, Eid fervor prevails in char areas of Rangpur region where enthusiastic char people are preparing to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
 
As a result of a huge change in socioeconomic conditions of char people, they are facing the crises with a bumper crop harvest in sandy char lands, income generating activities (IGAs) and the government's massive social safety net programs.
 
Even 14 years back, char people had to live in untold miseries as vicious cycle of poverty gripped their fortunes while child marriage, dowry, superstitions, malnutrition and lack of pure drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities had made their life miserable.
 
However, the situation has completely changed now in char areas where people are taking preparations to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr in a festive mood despite the prevailing global crises.
 
Chairman of Rangpur-based research organisation 'Northbengal Institute of Development Studies' Dr. Syed Samsuzzaman said the overall socioeconomic conditions of char people have improved following multi-dimensional interventions of the government.
 
"Following implementation of massive social safety-net, development, motivational activities, electrification and crop farming in char lands in the last 14 years, a huge change has taken place in the socioeconomic conditions of char people," he said.
 
As a result, Eid fervor is prevailing now in char areas where char people have attained a solid economic base and improved livelihoods alongside eradicating social curses with continuous government assistance and expanding crop cultivation.
 
"Despite the global crises caused by the Russia-Ukraine War, massive government interventions helped char people to face the situation and most of them are purchasing clothes and other Eid items to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festival," Dr. Zaman said.
 
Char people are now harvesting their cultivated crops and getting excellent yield with rewarding market prices and taking preparations to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
 
A couple Shahinur Islam and Fancy Begum of Char Purbo Mohipur in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said they are harvesting most of their cultivated crops like pumpkin, 'Khira', green chilli, maize and other crops in two acres of char lands.
 
The couple has already sold harvested 'Khira', pumpkin and other crops at Taka 1.50 lakh and is expecting to earn a net profit of Taka 2.50 lakh excluding all expenses after completing harvest.
 
"We have already purchased clothes and other Eid items for our children and family members with the money earned from selling our newly harvested crops to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr," said Fancy.
 
Char people Mahbub Alam and Anwar Hossain of village Paschim Mohipur in the upazila said they have already purchased Eid clothes and other items for their family members to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
 
"Getting assistance from the government, we have achieved self-reliance through farming crops in char lands, animal husbandry and other IGAs," said Kobiza Begum of the village and hoped to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr happily.
 
Couple Aminul Islam and Ummey Kulsum of village Char Taluk Shahbaz in Balapara union of Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said they are getting a bumper output with lucrative prices of their cultivated crops in char lands.
 
"We are getting excellent production of our cultivated pumpkin, groundnut, onion, garlic and vegetables in char lands with better market prices and have bought clothes and other Eid items for children and family members," said Aminul.
 
Chairman of Raniganj union in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram Md. Manjurul Islam said char people are preparing now to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity following their socioeconomic development.
 
Editor of the Weekly Juger Khabar published from Chilmari in Kurigram SM Nurul Amin Sarkar said "An Eid fervor is prevailing in char areas where people are busy in purchasing Eid items to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr in a festive mood."
 
"It has become possible following economic progress of char people as a result of successful implementation of massive social safety-net and other programs of the government and increasing crop cultivation in char lands," Sarker added.