DHAKA: When all is set for devout Muslims to celebrate Shab-e-Barat or the night of fortunes Tuesday praying a change of luck for the best, beggars are on the move to make the most out of the bounties of the occasion.   

According to Islamic rituals, Muslims will not only pray but also hand out charity to attain divine blessings that made the beggars busiest eyeing generous offerings.

Rush of floating people from different adjacent areas and far-off districts into the capital heightened during the last couple of days, in hope of an extra income by begging.

The worldly fortune-seekers came from Kurigram, Chapainawabganj, Panchagarh and other outlying places, part from those who queued up from Tongi, Gazipur, Manikganj, Comilla, Narsingdi and other near-by places around the capital.

The railway station at Kamalapur welcomed most of them while Saydabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals and Sadarghat launch terminal were not lagging behind as catchment points.

Everyone rushed to get a suitable place for seeking alms. Their desperate attempts to get one were not free of cost.

They had to buy a place to beg alms and gangs took the chance to make their fortune as well.

Beggars start competition to get place for begging in hotspots like High Court Mazar premises, Mirpur Shah Ali Mazar, Azimpur graveyard and Baitul Mukarram mosque.

“I used to get only Tk 30 per day in locality, but if I get a good place, it is possible to get Tk 8-10 thousand a night,” said one beggar, Jotsna Begum, at Kamalapur rail-station.

She said gangs control everything, including fixing the place and collection of money.

However, they would not name them.

Sources said the rent of a begging place at North and South gate, High Court Mazar gate and the road to Shah-Ali’s Mazar costs Tk 50-150 for whole night.

The facts about the other side of the holy night were found out by banglanews24.com.bd correspondents while visiting different places and speaking to a number of beggars.

The beggars get Tk 15-20 thousand from High Court Mazar Gate, Tk 10-15 thousand at South and North Gates of Baitul Mukarram mosque, Tk 5-8 thousand from Bangabandhau square and Zero Point, Tk 15-20 thousand from Mirpur Shah ALi’s Mazar gate and Tk 5-7 thousand from Mirpur circle and Mazar Road.

BDST 1718 HRS, JULY 27, 2010