Once, 70-year-old Abdul Latif had farmland, and his cattle shed was full of cows. Life was relatively easy for him and his family. However, now, in his twilight years, he makes and sells toothpicks to survive with his wife and a disabled child in Pramanikpara village of Taraganj upazila in Rangpur.

Abdul Latif's misfortune began in 1994 when he lost his only son, Ershad Uddin, in the Ikarchali market near his home. In search of his son, he sold the cows, two acres of arable land, and even their house.

At one point, he became destitute but worked in various parts of the country while continuing his search for Ershad, though without success. Latif reflected, “I had everything 30 years ago. People worked for me. Then I lost my son and became destitute. When I heard the news of Ershad’s disappearance, I ran to search for him, and sadly, that search never ended.”

“Now, there is no one left to take responsibility for my family. Old age makes it difficult for me to work, but what else can I do? My wife and I cut bamboo and make toothpicks, which we sell in shops. This is our livelihood now.”

Abdul Latif has married off four of his daughters, but no one was available to marry his remaining daughter due to her mental disability. He has to feed three mouths, including his own.

For the last seven years, he has been making toothpicks and selling them in hotels and various markets in Rangpur city and Taraganj. He buys bamboo for Tk150 and produces toothpicks worth Tk400.

When the Daily Sun correspondent visited his house, Abdul Latif was sitting in the yard of his dilapidated home, busy making toothpicks while his wife, Siddika Begum, assisted him. After shaping the bamboo sticks, they left the toothpicks to dry in the sun.

Wife Siddika Begum said, “Allah knows best. There is no one to look after us today, and we need to eat to survive. That’s why we are making toothpicks. The demand for our toothpicks is good.”

Neighbor Sakline Pramanik remarked, “Abdul Latif uncle has suffered many tragedies in his life. His only son is missing, and one of his daughters is disabled. He has no support other than his home. Yet, he has never begged from anyone.”

Sakline described Abdul Latif as a fighting soul with great character, stating that honest individuals like him are very rare in society.