NARAIL — Hawker Swapan Kundu is a familiar name to hundreds of newspaper readers and subscribers across Narail’s old market areas, from Hatir Bagan crossing to Boubazar, Muchipol, Rupganj, Bandhaghat, Dibdartala, the old bus terminal and the court square.
From dawn until evening, ignoring heat, cold, sun, storm and rain, Kundu has delivered newspapers door to door for more than 31 years. Selling newspapers is his only livelihood.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, from dawn to noon, a reporter accompanied him through his daily routine. His home is in Hatbaria village in Narail Sadar upazila. He has cycled from there to Narail town to carry out this work for three decades. His wife, one son, one daughter and elderly mother-in-law all depend on his earnings. His elder son is studying for a master’s degree and his daughter is in the 12th grade.
Abu Taher Mollah, a journalist working in Narail, said, “Swapan-da has worked hard for 30 years, and that work has been tied to honesty and responsibility. People like him are rare in today’s society.”
Subscriber Jahangir Mina said, “Every morning I wait in the market to collect the paper from Swapan-da. I’m an elderly man and I can’t read news on a mobile phone. I learn about the country and the world by reading the newspaper.”
Another subscriber, Rezaul Islam, said, “Swapan-da delivers our papers on time despite storms and rain. His conduct is undoubtedly praiseworthy.”
Businessman Mashiur Rahman said, “He has been reading newspapers for 31 years. Swapan Kundu delivers them regularly. He is a good man. I pray that he stays well.”
Kundu said hardship struck soon after his marriage. With no other way to support his family, he decided to sell newspapers. He began in 1994 with the advice and help of Badal, a manager at a regional newspaper. From then on, Swapan Kundu became known as Hawker Swapan.
Kundu said commodity prices were once low, and selling newspapers brought enough income to run his household. With the internet now offering everything, he regrets that print readership is shrinking. “I started with 15 copies of Lok Samaj. At one time I distributed 400 copies. Later Lok Samaj declined but other papers grew. Now in the internet age, demand for newspapers has dropped. Young people don’t read paper. Older readers take most of them. I now distribute about 250 copies of local and national papers combined,” he said.
“I once earned 14,000 to 15,000 taka. Prices were lower then, and I could even save a little after running the household. Now demand has dropped and so has income. I make 10,000 to 12,000 taka, and it’s a struggle to hold on. No one new enters this profession. But I can’t let go of my love for this work,” Swapan said.
Mohammad Azizul Islam, vice-president of Narail Press Club and a senior journalist, said, “Swapan is not just a newspaper seller, he is one of our comrades. He carries out the duty of delivering the news with a smile, from the heart.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report