In many societies around the world begging is an organized business. Giving alms to beggars therefore defeats the true purpose of charity. The Weekly 2000, the Daily Jae Jae Din and the Daily Ittefaq have all published investigative reports on the begging business in Bangladesh. These reports brought to surface some fascinating facts.

There is a huge network of beggars in Dhaka. This network is controlled by professional beggar Godfathers under political shelter. These godfathers gather beggars from all over the country, train them in all sorts of tricks, and then send them to beg in various spots in the city. For every 100 taka he makes, the beggar gets 50 taka at most; the rest goes in the pocket of the godfather.

The combined annual income of this organized begging mafia was almost 300 million taka back in 2005. Average daily income was between 250 and 300 taka, average monthly income around 9 grands, and average annual income more than 100 grands! ( Weekly 2000, 18.02.2005)

Jamir Ali, a beggar, owns 12 acres of land. Every year, he buys more land in his village home in Rangpur with the money he makes through begging. On his children’s birthday, he sends cakes from the best confectioneries in Dhaka.

Jalal Molla, another beggar, makes 60 grand per month and owns 12 baby taxis and 2 microbuses. He has named his two-storey house in his village home musafir khana ( Traveller’s Lodge).
Karam Alai Sheikh, another beggar, conducts usury business on the side. Although he pretends to be a beggar in the city, he owns a luxurious home and a private rickshaw in his village. He pays his private rickshaw puller two and half grand as salary every month. ( Daily Ittefaq, 13.01.2007).

So don’t be fooled! Your money can be put to much better use.