In the middle of Dhaka’s crowded urban landscape, where life moves fast and survival is a daily challenge, lives an elderly woman whose story remains largely invisible. Her name is Karimun Nesa, and she is over 80 years old, living in Korail slum, one of the largest informal settlements in Bangladesh.
Old age is meant to be a time of care, rest, and family support. For Karimun Nesa, however, it has become a period marked by hardship and neglect. She has no husband to depend on. Although she has a son, he does not take responsibility for her care. As her physical strength declines with age, she is left to face life alone, without emotional or financial support from her own family.
With no stable income and no dependable caregiver, Karimun Nesa survives by relying on the kindness of others. She often has no option but to ask people for help to manage basic needs such as food, daily necessities, and medical support. Each day becomes a struggle to survive with dignity. Her situation reflects the reality of many elderly individuals living in urban poverty across Bangladesh.
Beyond her own suffering, Karimun Nesa carries the emotional burden of her granddaughter’s lost education. She once managed to enroll her granddaughter in school, holding onto the hope that education could break the cycle of poverty. Unfortunately, due to severe financial hardship, she could not continue paying school fees or cover study-related expenses. As a result, the child has now stopped going to school, adding another painful chapter to an already difficult life.
This story is not only about poverty. It highlights elderly neglect, broken family responsibility, and the fragile state of child education among the poor. Karimun Nesa’s life raises urgent questions about how society treats aging parents and how easily a child’s future can be disrupted when financial support disappears.
Her story represents countless elderly people living quietly in slums, carrying their struggles without recognition. True progress cannot exist if the most vulnerable members of society are left behind.
To understand her situation more deeply, you can watch the full documentary video here:
For those who wish to support Karimun Nesa and others facing similar hardship, a donation option is available through Alingan’s official platform:
👉 https://alingan.org/en/donation
Awareness, empathy, and responsible action are essential if dignity is to be preserved at every stage of life.
