To stop nuisance of challenged son!

A poor widow of Beelbuka Charpara village in Trishal upazila under the district is struggling for survival as maintenance of her 14-year-old mentally challenged son poses an additional challenge. 

The boy, Abu Hanif, the eldest among three children of Shefali Begum and late Abdus Salam, has to be kept chained as he has become a 'nuisance' for the villagers.

"Now Hanif's treatment seems a dream for me as I am unable to feed him and two other kids Sadia Akhter Bristi, 8, and Mohammad Yeasin, 3," said Shefali, 35. 

"When Hanif was six-month-old, he showed signs of abnormal attitude. His father, a small cloth trader, arranged treatment for him but it failed to cure the kid," said Shefali.

“Woe befell our family as my husband was stabbed to death by hijackers at Gazipur Chowrasta in 2013. I and my three children are passing days half-fed,” said a tearful Shefali.

"I have no landed property other than the dwelling house and a small yard.  I rear a few hens, ducks and goats to manage food for my kids. 

“It is impossible for me to arrange Hanif's treatment. Will not my son ever return to normal life?” cried the helpless mother.

"Tired of hearing neighbours' complaints about Hanif's erratic behaviour, his mother keeps him chained to a tree adjacent to the house during the day. At night he is chained to the cot. It is unbearable to see the sufferings of the boy," said Hanif's aunt Suma.

Sometimes Hanif is seen crying for food as his mother cannot manage it, said Abdul Quddus, a neighbour.

Delwar Hossain Kamal, chairman of Kanthal Union Parishad, said, "The boy is not listed for allowance for the disabled people yet. I will arrange reasonable support for the boy and his mother."

Abu Jafor Ripon, upazila nirbahi officer of Trishal, said he will visit the boy soon to do everything possible.