Selling this red-red-green flag is a matter of great pride for Masud. He has been doing this work for the past 18 years.
Reversal News Desk,
As soon as December comes, sellers of red-green flags can be seen in the alleys off the roads. Hanging flags of various sizes on long bamboo poles, they run around and spread the message of victory. Their journey brings the atmosphere of victory to the corners of the mind.
On Sunday evening, I spoke to a seller at Swadhinata Udyan in Bagerhat Sadar. His name is Abdullah, aged 60. This resident of Sonadanga, Khulna said that he has been selling flags during the month of victory for the past seven years.
Abdullah, a tom-tom driver by profession, told hello.bdnews24.com, “There have been no sales this year. Maybe the sales are low due to the situation in the country.”
I spoke to another seasonal flag seller named Masud Mia in the Godaraghat area of Badda in the capital. Masud, 42, lives in Brahmanbaria.
He told Hello, “Many people thought that Victory Day would not be celebrated this year. So, in the beginning, the sales were low. I sold five foodie flags worth 300 taka for 150 taka. But today, Alhamdulillah, sales are good. Will there be Bangladesh without December?”
Selling this red-red-green flag is a matter of great pride for Masud. He has been doing this work for the past 18 years.
He also said, “A teacher used to say that it doesn’t feel like December unless you see him. It feels good to hear these things. So I sell flags in December.”
On the other side of the city, we spoke to a 17-year-old vendor named Md. Sohan. He has chosen to sell flags to support his family.
Sohan told Hello, “This year, sales are low compared to last year. A few days ago, people were saying that the flag will be changed along with the government.”
However, he believes that the red-green flag is a symbol of self-respect. Therefore, it is never possible to change this flag. In this time of victory, he has only one hope – that the state will take responsibility for children like him.
Reporters: Mushfiquzzaman Mushfiq (14), Bagerhat and Taiyyaba Tasnim Saima (16), Dhaka.
