Johirul from Chattogram, Bangladesh

Johirul from Chattogram, Bangladesh

by | Jan 18, 2022

Throughout the world thousands of organizations including the United Nations and its sister concerns are working to stop the child labor across the world. But the fact is still several million children work for extremely long hours in exchange for little pay at the risk of maltreatment, workplace violences, health issues, as well as at the cost of their lives. Instead of being in school, these children are left at mercy of a cruel world where they continue to struggle hard as child labors. Despite government recognition of laws against child labor and empty-pledges made by politicians to end child labor in the country, these children – our future – is being crushed by the unkind society.

One such child labor, Johirul, (Age-Not known, May be around 12), working for the last few years is not alone in his profession. When asked about his education, he answered negatively that he never went to school. Then I asked him about his dream, he answered “Nothing, no dream, I just want to live and have food three times a day”.

Like Johirul there are several thousand children living miserable lives by working 10-14 hours a day and earning as little as Tk-80-100 per day in the glamorous cities such as Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, etc. Unfortunately, in many places they just earn their food three times a day without any cash payment.

Most children work in auto-mechanical shops while several others work as car washer and cleaner. Others can be seen mending flat tyres, selling flowers at traffic signals, or selling fruit and vegetables in markets or working as house-maids.

The irony of fate is, people around these children are building their fortune, turning their dreams into reality by the cost of these children’s golden childhood, their priceless dreams.

I am sure Johirul has survived the cruelty of the world and made a way for himself. I am also hopeful that he has and still is trying to make peoples’ life better wherever he is.

Kalpona Didi from Khagrachari, Bangladesh

Kalpona Didi from Khagrachari, Bangladesh

by | Sep 2, 2021

This portrait has been photographed on the top of Alutila Hill in Khagrachari, Bangladesh on 18 July 2011. Have a close look, please. I Hope, you are realizing the height of the hill. This is approximately 1865 ft above sea level, where she was working.

The name of this Girl is Kalpona. I called her Kalpona Didi. She and her family live on the downhill of this hill. Every day in the morning she and other members of her family including her husband come here and take care of their crops.

She was a mother of two kids, and one of them was two years old in 2011. Sadly her other child died at the age of two. Her husband’s name is Shotish, who works with her in this field.

This photograph might seem a serene, peaceful, and beautiful one to you but the life they lead isn’t that spectacular. Every single second they are fighting for their livelihood. Despite their struggle, they are profoundly happy and simple. And that is the most amazing thing I have seen in them. Their vision towards gender mainstreaming, even without knowing anything about this phrase was really remarkable. They survive such a struggle because they work as a team, and no matter what, they never leave the clan. While Kalpona Didi was working at one side of the hill, Shotish was doing the same kind of work nearby.

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.