Sonia from Mawa, Munshiganj, Bangladesh

Sonia from Mawa, Munshiganj, Bangladesh

by | Aug 26, 2021

This portrait has been photographed on 16 June 2012 at Mawa in Munshiganj, Bangladesh.

Her name is Sonia. She was a mother of a boy of around one year age. She along with her husband and child used to live in Lauhajang Thana in Munshingonj District. However, life drove them away from home and they have been living on their boat for a week.

During a chat with her, I have learned that she and her husband had just returned from fishing in Padma River. While she was preparing for another round of fishing in indigenous way, her husband had gone to the nearby market to sell their previous catch.

Their life apparently do not resemble a luxurious life filled with abundance. However, after so many years I still reckon that smile and simplicity she was carrying. They were certainly happy despite living on a boat and earning livlihood from river.

Oh! How simple the life was! I sincerely wish they are all living a happy life even now. May the Almighty bless them with joy, happiness, and well-being. Wish that her little child will grow as an enlightened human being and certainly will relive his parents from miserable struggle.

Gandhi Said “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

Gofur from Tok Bazar, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Gofur from Tok Bazar, Gazipur, Bangladesh

by | Aug 25, 2021

He is Mr Gofur. His age was approximately around 84 years when this photograph has been captured. He was born, have lived and grew old in Tok Bazar, Gazipur.

He had two sons and two daughters. They all are somehow settled and work for their own. Its unfortunate that despite leading a good life, they all have miserably failed to provide a better life to their Father.

Do you think this is the right age for him to fight like this?

Or,

He is supposed to pass his happy retired life with his children and grandchildren at some better place than this?

Whats his eyes are asking to us? Can anyone of us hear those and Answer?

I dont think so.

Some are born to fight all their lives in this merciless world till they embrace death. But surely they live as a fighter and die as a hero.

Salute to Mr Gofur.

Nurjahan from Shatkhira, Bangladesh

Nurjahan from Shatkhira, Bangladesh

by | Aug 23, 2021

This portrait has been photographed on 15 November 2014 at Haripur in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Mrs. Nurjahan is fighting for her survival for many years but does not know how long she would be able to do that all by herself. Her husband escaped from life permanently and left her all alone. Since then she is taking care of her family which consists of her mother, daughter, one brother, and one sister who is also a widow. She works as a cook in Al Arab Bricks and gets Tk-5000 ($65) as salary each month. This amount is not enough but still, she manages to take care of every one of her family.

She is from Satkhira but working in Sylhet at present. She will return to Satkhira once this brickfield will close down its’ production for this season. I asked what she would do. She answered; “I don’t know yet, maybe fishing, maybe begging. Whatever suits me I would do that.”

Aziz Mita from Ataikul Upazilla, Pabna, Bangladesh

Aziz Mita from Ataikul Upazilla, Pabna, Bangladesh

by | Aug 23, 2021

This portrait has been photographed on 16 July 2021 at Ataikula Upazilla in Pabna, Bangladesh.

His name is Aziz Mita. He is a 70 years aged man, and the father of two children. Despite his age and many health issues, he is working as day labor, where he was carrying mammoth loads of jute to earn his living. This 70-year-old young(!) man requires to rest, whereas he is desperately working to earn livelihood for himself and his family. Everyone in this world deserves a life fulfilled not a neverending struggle.

However, we appreciate his outstanding contribution to keeping the economy rolling. Eventually, they are the unsung heroes for whom our society, economy, and the system (!) are surviving.

We will sincerely try to reach him to get his contacts. When we were photographing, he did not have his phone with him, and also could not tell us his contact details. Once we will get the details, we will share them here. If you want to help this man and the family to survive you may reach out to assist.

Jute is known as Golden Fiber in Bangladesh. Once Bangladesh used to earn huge revenue from jute products. Because of its huge contribution to the economy as well as because of its golden color it has claimed the synonym Golden Fiber.

In recent years, Jute has regained its glory as throughout the world jute products are reclaiming their popularity. One of the major reasons is Jute is an environment-friendly substance and it is one of the major alternatives to plastic-based products.