People's life has been disturbed by the intense heat wave that is sweeping over the country. Everyone, young and old, is short of breath in the intense heat. Although no one goes out of the house except for urgent needs, the workers are working in such heat because of their stomachs. One of them is Anjura Begum, who is fifty years old.

Anjura Begum, who works as a mason in the scorching heat, told Barta24.com that her entire family is supported by her earnings alone. Even though she cannot work for a long time due to her age, she continues to work hard while looking after her family.

If you work in the hot sun for a long time, you will get sick. She said, the poor do not have hot and cold, what will they eat if they do not work? I have to run the family with the money that I earn from daily wages.

She also said, I don't have energy like before, but because of my stomach I have to go out every day in search of work. When there is work, food comes, if not, you have to starve.

She lamented that it is difficult to work due to age. People don't even want to employ her because of her age. Even if you go for old age pension, you will not get government pension because you are not yet old. If she does not come to work, the stove does not burn. It is very difficult to run a family with the money you get as a daily wage.

Anjura Begum, who lost everything and came from Shyamnagar in Satkhira, said that her husband used to work in fishing and collecting honey in the Sundarbans. They had their own houses and cultivated land. But in the happy life, sadness came in the flood of 2000. The river dam broke and the house was washed away in one night. Destitute, she took her husband's hand with her two little daughters and moved to Satkhira town. There, the two started working as day laborers to run the family from a rented house. After a few years, the husband fell ill. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then pregnant Anjura Begum fell on the stone.

After selling everything that was in the village, she treated her husband with a sigh and said that her husband died in 2013 after a few months of the birth of her little girl in poverty. A well-to-do family offers accommodation in exchange for domestic work. She turned grief into strength to run the family in the pursuit of livelihood and started working as a laborer.

Anjura Begum said, we do not work less than men. Yet our women workers are being paid less than men. Why are we discriminated against?

Three cases are under process against Milton Samaddar, Chairman of Child and Old Age Care Ashram. Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police said that a case will be filed at Mirpur Model Police Station on Wednesday (May 1) night.

According to detective police sources, a case will be filed against Milton on three charges at Mirpur Model Police Station. The process of listing the cases is under process.

Earlier, a team of detective police arrested Milton Samaddar in a raid in Mirpur area of the capital.

Later, in an emergency press conference, DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective) Mohammad Haroon Or Rashid said that there are many complaints against Milton Samaddar. His house is in Uzirpur of Barishal. He was ostracized by the local people because he beat his father. Then he moved to Dhaka.

He said his wife will also be interrogated on the allegations and multiple cases will be filed. The charges leveled against him are heinous crimes. If there is evidence, he will not be exempted.

The DB chief said that Milton will be charged with human trafficking, assault on children, beating relatives when they visit and his torture cell.

Haroon Or Rashid also said that Milton came to Dhaka and started working in Shahbagh pharmacy. There, Milton was expelled for stealing medicine. Then he married a nurse. After marriage, he discussed with his wife to set up 'Child and Old Age Care'.

Before this, news about Milton Samadar's various misdeeds was published in the media. Since then, a storm of criticism started with him on social media. The victims also opened their mouths though Milton Samadar denied all the allegations made against him by interviewing some media.

Shahjahan Mia's house was at Bhola. He came to Chattogram's Karnaphuli shore because of his stomach. Shahjahan's younger daughter is Morsheda, who is physically sick and survives by eating whatever she can get. She joined the life struggle with her father even earlier! This father and daughter were seen on the bank of Chaktai canal while buying onions caught by various pests at a low price and drying them in the sun.

When Shahjahan Mia asked about not sending her 11-year-old daughter to study and keeping her with him to work, he said, "We will have to run the family." If the family does not work, what is the point of studying? I can't help her studying for want of money. She read upto five.'

Apu, Arafat and Azgar are three friends. Their ages are 12, 11 and 12 years respectively. Their house is in Sonagaji in Feni. I met these three friends while working at a 'Printing and Foil Paper Cutting House' in Rahmatganj by Lane.

When asked to know the story of this labor life of three friends at such a young age, they exchanged a tragic experience. All three of them have the same story. They said that their parents sent them to this profession for income. However, the salary of the three could not reach any handsome amount.

The children depicted in the above two stories, the number of working children in our country is about 17 lakh 76 thousand 97 people which is 24.6 percent of the total labor of Bangladesh. Among them, 6 lakh 40 thousand children are employed in Chattogram which is 36 percent of total child labor in Bangladesh.

According to official data, Chattogram division has the highest number of child laborers in the country out of 17 lakh 76 thousand. With 3 lakh 40 thousand child laborers, it is in the second position in Dhaka Division. The number of child labor has been increasing in Chattogram for the past few years. In 2023, total child labor in Chattogram was 4.3 percent. This year it has increased by 4.4 percent.

Chattogram children are involved in household work including dumping stations, dry fish sector, metal factories, automobile workshops, transport and ship breaking. Due to which the risk of their life is also great.

Assistant Director (Child Protection Project) of Chattogram non-profit organization (NGO) Mamata Mujtahida Kausar gave this information to Barta24.com on Monday (April 29).

However, aluminum sector is at the top of child labor in Chattogram. It is followed by public transport, hotel, garment industry, construction, health and beauty parlor sector respectively. These data emerged in a survey conducted by four teachers of Chattogram University and Premier University in 2023 with the support of Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS).

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the Bangladesh government has officially recognized 43 sectors as vulnerable. But it is known from various social and human rights organizations that most children work in these risky occupations.

Zia Habib Ahsan, Secretary General of Human Rights Organization Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation (BHRF), said, "Although different definitions of children are given in different laws of the state, in most laws, a person is called a child up to 18 years of age. Child labor up to the age of 18 is a legally punishable offence. In some cases child labor is permitted under certain age and conditions. However, the sad thing is that the neighboring country India also has child protection laws. But it is not in Bangladesh.

He also said, "Even if a certain child labor is allowed, there are certain conditions." For example, daily work cannot be done for more than 4-5 hours. Do not do heavy work. Chemical, battery, workshop, wiring, electrical, transportation, dumping etc. heavy work shall not be done. They cannot be employed full time. They have to check their fitness and appoint them etc. However, it is disappointing that the state is responsible for ensuring the fundamental rights of children, but the state is not fulfilling it.

Why are children involved in child labor? In response to the question of what is the reason behind this, Chief Executive of Chattogram non-profit organization (NGO) Mamta Rafiq Ahmed said, "One of the reasons for the increase in child labor in Chattogram is poverty." Moreover, since Chattogram is the commercial capital, many are involved in work from childhood. Again, because children can be paid less, many establishment owners bring children to work. There can also be various other reasons. However, the biggest reason is poverty. If the state can ensure the basic rights of all, this child labor will be reduced.

Jasmine Sultana Paru, chief executive of ILMA (NCO's Legal Support Through Local Movement and Action), said, 'The way our population is growing is also one of the reasons for the increase in child labor. Moreover, many families send their children to work for money. But child labor is not just child labor. The physical and mental abuse that these children undergo while doing this child labor is beyond imagination. Moreover, the government says, no child will be left behind. Not a single child will be on the streets. But what will happen, there is no such initiative. No one knows where the child is, dead or alive. But I think that child labor will come down one day if strong initiatives are taken by the government and the private sector.

A heavy load of fish on the head. Sunburned face darkened. Sweat is pouring down. But where is Mohammad Farhad when looking at that? The more fish sacks you carry, the higher the wages will be. And if you get wages, you will get food in the mouth of mother and two brothers!

How old are you - Farhad stopped a little. Sad face. A 16-year-old teenager opened the window of that sadness by getting people. He started saying, 'Though I studied up to class five, I could not continue my studies due to lack of education because I don't have a father. I have two brothers and mother at home. Who will feed them if I do not work? I came to Chattogram from Bhola and started working in a grocery store. But the salary there was low. Even though it is hard to be forced, I have to work for two months in intense heat to load heavy sacks of fish.

Farhad smiled a little while looking at his face. He said, 'I was fairer before coming to work here. Now I'm blackened by the sun.

Not only this teenager, but many such Farhads will be seen if you go to Banglabazar Ghat of Karnaphuli river in Chattogram city. Some are 15, some are 20-25. These teenagers work to load fish by competing with adults every day. Women are also with them. This image seen on Wednesday afternoon is every day.

These workers started running when the Sampans filled with fish crowded the river bank. This is a race for food. Females and juveniles compete with adult males. Different species of fish from the sea are going to the freezer on their heads. Their lives last for twelve months by loading heavy fish encased in cold ice.

Through this ghat of Karnaphuli, all kinds of fish including hilsa, coral, surma and poa from the sea go to the nearby cold store. From that freezer, these fish spread all over the country, even outside the country. And hundreds of workers work to bring down these fish. The sailor takes care of these workers. And 10, 20 or 50 workers work under the leadership of each sailor. Ten workers work to deliver one Sampan's fish to the freezer. In return, everyone gets a wage of 100 taka. This work starts every morning and ends in the evening. Those who have no holidays in the week or month are paid according to the labor they give. They have to fight to get that wage from the sailor!

On the surface it can be seen that two other workers are supporting a worker by handing a bag of fish over his head. In just a few minutes, he is running and putting the sack on his head in the freezer. In the meantime, if you stand or slow down, the sailor will be scolded and scolded.

It is normal to have men between 40 and 60 years of age among these ghat workers. Many women also joined the union due to the scarcity. But the surprising thing is that even teenagers of 10 to 14 years of age are carrying this heavy bag of fish on their heads.

Hathazari resident of Chattogram eleven mile area, dark complexion. Father was a big businessman. But destiny has made Afsar a worker. It's hard to work with age, but stomach won't understand that anymore. That's why he still has to go to work every day.

Highlighting that sadness, Afsar told Barta24.com, 'The price of things including gas and electricity, it is very difficult for us to live at present. My knee hurts, but still have to work. There is no way, the urge to survive has to work. Don't do it - why not get paid as long as I work. If you don't work, you won't get rice in your stomach. Let the government pay attention to us.

Along with men, Munni Begum (30) of Rangpur has been working at this ghat for about three years. When asked, she told Barta24.com, "We don't have any holidays. You have to come to the ghat every morning at 8 o'clock. I am waiting for when the boat or Sampan will come. Carrying a load on the head is a lot of trouble. After working all day, when you go home, your body aches. Our income is not good. Sometimes I earn like Tk. 300, sometimes Tk. 500 a day.'

Idris Majhi of Barishal has been working at this ghat for 18 years. He said, "The workers do not get their fair wages for the hardwork they do." We want the workers to get their money on time.

Sahabuddin, the security worker of the ghat said, "I have been working for the last 5 months. Here, along with the elders, I see small children working with heavy loads on their heads. It is actually a kind of inhuman act. Such is their life. Some day they get 200-300 takas. Again, one day does not get at all, loss of coming to the ghat. If there is a ship, if they work, they get like 500 takas.

Jahed, once a laborer, has now become a sailor. He said, 'Workers are paid 100 taka per Sampan. I manage them and earn as much as a laborer. There is no time for these tasks. Really work with Sampan fish. If not, you have to sit down. It appears that sometime in the morning many sampans bring fish. Sometimes he comes in the afternoon.

They start their day with a bag of fish on their heads. In this way, afternoon turns into evening. The date on the calendar changes when you return home with a body wet with sweat from the whole day. However, their fate does not change! Live in labor and sweat.