Rajshahi Railway Station. which has become the heart of daily life for many. Here Ghulam Mustafa, Afzal, Sharif, Kamal and about 40 coolies run with different trains every day. Their job is to carry passengers' heavy luggage. At the sound of the train's whistle, they ran to the platform, in one breath.

Their competition begins to see who can get into the train compartment first. Who can lift the goods in his troly first. They stand in front of the train and ask the passengers to carry the goods. Their lives have been going on like this for ages, months after months.

Not only at Rajshahi railway station; This image is seen in medium to large railway stations almost all over the country.

This daily rush is not only a part of their professional life, but it is an essential part of their family life.

The workers said that with the increase in the price of goods, their income is not increasing. The income is three to four hundred takas a day. But; It costs 500 to 600 taka. It is running out of water to bring salt. But they are happy to earn in halal way even with low income.

Golam Mostafa, who has been involved in this profession for the past 45 years, said that our daily run is actually a struggle for bread and sustenance for our family. A train is a symbol of our hope.

These porters not only carry the luggage but also provide a reliable support to the passengers. The scope of work of these employees of Rajshahi station is wide ranging from arrival to departure of trains. Another worker (coolie) named Afzal said, We develop a bond with each passenger, which in some cases gets stronger with time.

Another worker Kamal said, the risk in this profession is not less; we carry heavy baggage every day, which puts a strain on our physical health. But this work for family is essential for us.

This daily scene at Rajshahi railway station is not just a picture of a platform; it is a familiar scene at many railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies like Golam Mostafa go out of their way to serve passengers every day.

These regular scenes at Rajshahi railway station are similar to other railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies are fighting for their families every day. Their life and professional responsibilities are like a mocking challenge, which they need not only for financial security, but also for their contribution as part of a society.

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.