Md Mostafa, An Ex-Driver and a Boatman from Noakhali

Md Mostafa, An Ex-Driver and a Boatman from Noakhali

by | Feb 12, 2022

‘If you lie, you can make a good profit as well as you can prevail as a good friend and colleague. Neither did I want to lie nor did I want to profit by fooling others. There’s no glory in these.’ This is what Md Mostafa said today, and once again I was amazed by a random stranger. Md Mostafa, an ex-driver and a boatman from Noakhali walked many roads and lived many lives in his journey on earth to date.

He was born and raised in Swahdweep, a small island in the Bay of Bengal which falls in Chattogram District. Now he lives in Shubornochar, Noakhali. In his early life, he started working as a fisherman but later switched to the driving profession as he could not make much for his living from fishing. After a few years of being a helper/ co-driver at one stage, he managed to get a professional driving license for a long vehicle (transporter). He used to earn quite more than what he earns now being a boatman but left the job willingly.

While hearing his story, I was curious to know what has made him leave that well-paid profession, which ultimately resulted in being a boatman. Then he revealed an inside story of our transportation sector, how drivers are fooling their masters, and how their masters are suppressing them every day. Well, maybe we can discuss those inside stories some other day. Md Mostafa has neither liked living life to someone else’s desire nor did he want to earn corrupt money. So, with his prior knowledge, he ended up as a boatman.

He has bought this boat, which was used to be a fishing trawler eleven years back by Taka-95,000 ($1100/ Though today it is worth much more). And later he has spent few thousand more to make it suitable to ferry people, goods, cattle, etc. Today he is the master of himself. He does not work for anybody but him only. He works, when he wants to work, he sleeps when he wants to sleep. He always keeps his light sleeping arrangements in his boat. Sometimes he rests in the middle of the river, sometimes he rests at the bank of the river, sometimes he takes his boat up to his home and sleeps there.

Md Mostafa, An Ex-Driver and a Boatman from Noakhali Md Mostafa, An Ex-Driver and a Boatman from Noakhali

Md Mostafa, is Repairing His Own Boat

Today Md Mostafa is a father of seven children. Among them four are daughters, and three are sons. With all the difficulties he overcame to date, he is a happy man today. Three of his daughters are married, and one is studying, while all three of his sons are studying. His life neither offered him any charm nor any comfort. Rather he was encountered by pirates thirteen times, his land has been gulped by the river, and faced many other odds including accidents. But, after all the struggles of years after years today he lives his own life, his four children go to school, he has his own house and cultivable land, and he is living a happy life with absolutely no resentment.

His charismatic personality, honesty-integrity, commitment, dedication, and knowledge of life-saving skills made him an admirable person in his neighborhood. My boatman today failed to keep his commitment, which forced me to wait there for an hour. Despite knowing that it would be dark to reach the other end of the river, I did not become mad at him, because I never do so. Rather I have enjoyed that hour talking to this gentleman and thanked Almighty Allah for this blessing in disguise.

I know there are many more, Md Mostafa, around us, whose stories are neither heard by most of us nor they are shared by anyone. I am on a mission to unfold these stories of our unsung heroes, for whom we can dream of a better world tomorrow. If you have a story to share please contact us. If you still do not have any story in hand, share ours.

Md Mostafa, An Ex-Driver and a Boatman from Noakhali
Md Jalal Khan from Pabna, Bangladesh

Md Jalal Khan from Pabna, Bangladesh

by | Sep 2, 2021

This portrait has been photographed at Ishwardy Railway Junction in Pabna, Bangladesh on 02 September 2021

His is Md Jalal Khan. He has no idea how old he is. However, he guessed that he might be 65 years old. He is a father of two sons and a daughter. All his life he struggled to manage food for him as well as for his family, and barely could manage to send his children to school. One of his sons works in a garage, while the other works in a Cloth store as a salesman. His daughter is better of in relation to his sons, who work in Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Ishwardy, Pabna, Bangladesh.

He cannot read or write. I have requested him for his mobile number, which he could not tell. Once I asked him that why he could not go to school, he shared his sad past. He is originally from the Faridpur district of Bangladesh. But after the liberation war, he migrated to Ishwardy as it was an important township, and had offered many works including day laborers. Since then he is staying here and has made Pabna his home. With all the savings he could save all his life he purchased a piece of land (one Katha, approximately 500sqft area). He has also built a small tin house on that land, though that is not enough to house all family members.

He is basically a day laborer, who is an expert in tin works. On those days when he is hired, he gets Tk-700 ($8). However, on average he works 10 to 12 days a month. As this is not enough, he also often pulls rickshaws in the town. On top of that, he often helps Mr. Sudev in his small restaurant, which helps him to manage few pieces of bread in the morning.

My meeting with Md Jalal was a rewarding event for me as knowing about people makes me feel good. But, it was a sad event too to start the day, peoples’ struggle for their existance makes me sad. Life of Jalal and his family is filled with unimaginable struggles, which remains unknown to most of us.

Certainly, we all are fighting our own battles, and in most of the cases one is not aware of the battle of a random stranger. But, in a fair world everyone deserves to have a good life with foods on their table, and a place to sleep. I am sure, there are stories of even more dire situation than Jalal. My prayers for their wellbeing. I also pray to almighty that oneday I will be able to reachout to these people and help them change their lives apart from just listening to their stories.

Mannan Pramanik from Pabna, Bangladesh

Mannan Pramanik from Pabna, Bangladesh

by | Aug 27, 2021

This portrait has been photographed on 27 August 2021 at Ishwardy Upazilla in Pabna, Bangladesh.

He is Md Mannan Pramanik. He was born in Ullahpara, Shirajganj, Bangladesh on 29 December 1963. Mannan is working as a Collie (load/ luggage bearer in the train/ bus station) for more than thirty years in Ishwardy Railway Station. Though he was born and has been raised in Shirajganj, yet he is settled in Pabna now.

Mannan is a father of four grown-up men. As a father, he is quite successful despite his tremendously difficult life. He raised his sons and gave them education amidst his social and economical challenges. One of them is working in a private company in Malaysia, one is serving in Bangladesh Navy, one owns a small business in Pabna, and the youngest one is studying in a college in Pabna.

He does not earn much from his work. As such from the urge of earning more he has successfully diversified his source of income. Apart from carrying loads of passengers in train station he occasionally trades of raw materials, seasonal vegetable, fruits, etc.

I asked him, why he still works! He laughed and replied that this work is keeping him fit. If he leaves work, he fears that he would fall sick, while I was wondering how this man carrying so many loads at this age and climbs stairs every now and then.

People who work with him are generally reluctant of sending their children to school. To many of them, education is a luxury, and some of them employ their children to generate income. Mannan stands out in his community for the outstanding sacrifice and effort he has made for raising his children to the best of his capacity. Well, he has expressed gratitude to his wife as well for the dedication and sacrifice she made in the journey.

Respect for Mannan and his wife. I am certain there are many more Mannan around us, whose stories are yet to be revealed. I sincerely hope and pray that Mannan will continue inspiring people around him to invest where he has invested. Thank you Mannan Pramanik.

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.

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.