The Mamas and Pichis of Tong..

The Mamas and Picchis are very famous among the TONG PEOPLE

The Mamas and Picchis seem to be an integral part of the “Tong Culture.”

The Picchis are the little assistants of the Mamas and they mostly are very exuberant little people

“Tongs”- the tea stalls that are so near and dear to us is the theme of this blog. Bangladesh at the moment seems to have into a “Tong Culture”… the culture which is absolutely free from any form of discrimination and bigotry. I say this as we more than frequently witness people from all class of the society spending time in a Tong- from a sweaty rickshaw-puller to a New Generation KID in a BMW 7 series…. These small tea stalls that we see all around the streets of Bangladesh are one of the major reflection of the emergent “TONG CULTURE” of Bangladesh. The tong people are always united with no racial barriers. These people share the among each other from petty jokes to important political affairs to their family life tales sipping a cup of tong tea and puffing at a occasional smoke… These tongs are the greatest witnesses of the lives of the people of Bangladesh from every class of the society… So lets share these tales of joy and happiness, of melancholy and sadness, of trust and respect, and of kinship that we feel for each other among ourselves…. SO PEOPLE OF THE TONG CULTURE, TELL THE TALES OF OUR LIFES…………………..

Increasing child labors in Dhaka city. Bangladesh

Almost every month I go to wholesale fish market one or two times in a month that is situated Merul Badda. This wholesale fish market is 10 minutes walking distance from my residence. There are several reasons why I go to buy fish from this market. I can buy fresh fish in cheap prices than the retail kitchen market and I can not go to kitchen market everyday or every week. It also helps me to walk early in the morning. So I like to buy fish from this market.
Two years ago I saw few children used to come to this market. Some of them used to collect wasted fish or small fish that are fallen from the shop or dish. And that’s why they are called “Mas Chur” (thief of fish). Some of them used to help whole seller or retail fish businessmen and earned some money. But recently I am observing that more children are coming to work in this market and day by day their number is increasing.
One wholesale fish businessman informed that they number will be more than 100 hundred and rapidly their number is increasing.
I had also asked him why this number is increasing rapidly and he replied that you know that the living cost of Dhaka increasing rapidly day by day and recent high prices of food items make poor people more vulnerable. So every member of a poor family is trying hard to earn some money.

These children come to this market at about 5.00 am (one hour ago before sunrise) because business starts from 5.30 am to 8.00 am in the morning. During these periods they remain so busy that they have no scope to talk with me. One boy named Khokon about seven years informed that he comes before sunrise in this market. He helps wholesaler and retailer who come to buy fish. Retailer gives him 2 to 5 taka for bearing one basket fish (10 to 20 kg fish). He bears from wholesale shop to retailer spot that is out side of wholesale market near roadside and receive money. Thus he can earn 30 to 60 taka per day. He returns home at about 9.00 am in the morning. He went to school two years in a NGO school but at present he does not go to any school. He has been coming in this market for about last six months.

They are very busy to collect one trip. Two children were waiting to take this trip but one slight aged and (shishu mastan) muscle child took that trip avoiding other two children. They need one basket that's made of bamboo.
After slight raining and at the end of market time I have taken this picture. “Mama (maternal uncle) everyone call us ‘mas chur’(thief of fish) but we don’t steal any fish” said they children. Only three children studied two years to the school but now none of them go to school.

These three girls are searching small or wasted fish beside shops. They informed me that at the end of market time and collecting fish they would sell their collecting fish. Thus they can earn 10 taka to 20 taka per day. But often they are scolded by the fish businessmen and sometimes slight beaten.

There is also heavy competition among the tokai (street children). They also get up early in the morning (at the time of sunrise) and go out to collect wasted papers, packets, plastic bottles and other trashes from the street and dustbin. They can earn 100 to 200 taka per week collecting these. I saw these children in the street at about 6.30 when they were going to collect their goods.
This child is also trying to help her mothers to add slight more earning.
We can also observing that children are working as at railway station as Kuli (labor), small car workshops, factories and small tea shops. These numbers are also increasing but in this age they need to study. But they are struggling to live.

Drainage Problem in Dhaka City and Needs More Awareness Program

Every year we can see that slight rainfall makes water logged in Dhaka city. The water can not pass through drain or pass very slowly. And sometimes water gets overload from the drain. Very bad smell spread out from this water. Diarhoea, dysentery and skin diseases spread out from this dirty water. Combining rain water and drain water during rainy season make Dhaka city with bad smell and it gets risky in every year. Heavy rainfall can easily make flood in the Dhaka city easily and that stays for long time. Then we think that drainage system of Dhaka city has broken.

But we don’t want to know why we are facing these kinds of problem in every year. If you collect information from Dhaka City Corporation you can see, there is sufficient manpower to keep clean this city. We can also see that they work hard too. But where is the main problem? A Sweeper said that if people don’t get aware to keep clean Dhaka city then we won’t not be able to keep clean Dhaka alone. People in Dhaka city are not aware about drainage problem and they are making these problems what they don’t know. There are many places where there are no covers on drains and manholes are been open all time. People are throwing dirt in the drain everyday; especially roadside tea shops, grocery shops, other business centers throw dirt. People are also throwing poly bags, various kinds of packets, skin of bananas, coconuts and other fruits in the drains everyday and that are making jam in the drain.



These things are thrown by roadside small business centers/shops that make jams and water can not pass through the drain.


These small tea shops are on the drain and they throw almost all of their unnecessary things in the drain.

I have taken these pictures from nearby a residential hotel where sex trade is open secret. Some NGOs teaches sex workers to use condoms to protect them from STDs/HIV but they don’t teach them where they will keep these uses condoms. So after completing their tasks they throw these to the latrines and those go to the drains and make drainage problems.

I want to say DCC needs to spend some money to make aware people about drainage problem. Media can take a rule to aware people about this problem. Local elected representative needs to look after their area and keep clean their areas.

Hilsha Fish is our National Fish

Hilsha fish is national fish of Bangladesh. People in our country like this fish very much. It is very delicious and nutritious. There is a proverb that ‘Vat-e Mas-e Bangali’ (Bangladeshis are fond of rice and fish). Pohela Boishakh (1st Day of Bengali Year) is celebrated by eating fried Hilsha fish with Panta Rice. New or rich guests are entertained by the Hilsha fish. We get sufficient protein from Hilsha fish. Our national economy is being developed by exporting Hilsha Fish. Not only have these, Hilsha fishes also contribute 1% in our GDP. In the world about 60% Hilsha fishes are found in Bangladesh.

Photo from Khilgoan Taltola Super Market

Hilsha fish is migratory kind of fishes. Hilsha fishes come from the channel (mouth) of rivers from the sea due to spawn in the Bangladesh. After laying eggs they returned to the sea. From six to seven months these young Hilsha fishes stay in the rivers or channels and then they go to the sea being maturity. Hilsha fishes are found almost all the big rivers in Bangladesh. Mainly Hilsha fishes are found in the Padma, Meghna, Jomuna, Brohmoputra and low land area of Southern part of Bangladesh. In the rainy season Hilsha fishes are found more in the Padma, Meghna and Jomuna.

In the decade of 90th, Hilsha fish productions were decreasing due to several reasons, like as: effecting of the Farakka Dam, making dams for irrigation or controlling flood, water pollution, catching young Hilsha fish etc.

As it is a national fish the Government of Bangladesh tries to protect this Hilsha fish by taking some steps. Such as: in 2003-04 Govt. declared to stop catching young Hilsha fish and mother of Hilsha fish. Rallies, seminars, distributing flyers were arranged by the Govt. due to increase awareness. Fishermen and businessmen were organized to protect this silver wealth of Bangladesh.

The Natural gift and the mercy of God, these Hilsha fishes are very dear to the people of Bangladesh and India. Day by day its demand is increasing to the people of Bangladesh and India. On last June- July of 2007, a problem occurred between India & Bangladesh for the Hilsha fish. Due to high demand of Hilsha fish in India, the businessmen and the fishermen of Bangladesh exported most of the Hilsha fish to India and as a result the people of Bangladesh was bereft of Hilsha fish. At that time Hilsha fishes were valuable and difficult to obtain in Bangladesh. People and Newspaper of Bangladesh started to publish the real situation of Hilsha fish and then on 4th July of 2007, the present Care- Taker Govt. stopped to export Hilsha fish to our neighbor country India for six months. Though govt. could not stop the whole dishonest businessmen who send Hilsha fishes to the India in unlawful way; day by day Hilsha fish became available in Bangladesh.

Conversely, people of India also pressured to the local Govt. of India to solve this problem as they also like Bangladeshi’s famous Hilsha fish!!!!

He is selling Hilsha fish in the Khilgoan Taltola kitchen market

Child rights what is your responsibly?

“Compulsory Primary Education” is great program of Bangladesh govt. Besides many organizations are also working on it and children’s rights. Many donors are also spending lot of money to implement this program. But what we can see everyday!! We become very sad when we can see street children are being addiction, children are begging, searching something in the dustbin. But what you can do when a child works for supporting his family. Is there anybody who thinks “why a family sends her child for earning”? There are many children are working in the car garages and small restaurants, huge number of children are working as tokai. We also found huge number of children is working as koli in the rail stations, chicken markets. Some children run small business like tea, vegetable as vendor. We can see a good number of children use as customer caller in the rich market before EID and other occasion. Many people use these children for their own business development. Most of the solvent families in have a small baby for working as maidservant. Do we think what they need in this age?










These children work in the car garages just to learn. They don't get any salary but they work from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. Some of them get some money for lunch only. Some of these children went to school and studied one year to three years. They replied that their parents sent there to learn car repairing.










These boys work as local bus helpers and they can earn 50 taka 100 taka per day. They can sopport to their family. This is very risky job. I talk with two boys and they told me that they went to the NGO's schools and they studied three years. Liton, aged 12 told me that he lived with her mother and he had two younger sisters. Her mother was working as a house maid and his father did not live with them and his father also did not give them money. He did not tell me why his father did not live them and where his father was living. I asked him that what you would do after 5 to 10 years. He could not tell me. I also can not say whatt he'll do in future?










These boys don't work under any organization but they give free service to bear dusts to the dustbin what city corporation people do. They give free labor because they can collect old papers, plastics, bottle etc from the dustbin. As there are many children to collect these things (working as tokai) city corporation people are using them.
All of these children are 8-12 years old when they will go to school. What is the future of these children? At best they can be a labor. We can see in the papers that some of them take intoxication. Some of them are used to sell drug/intoxication like phensidil, gaja, heroin etc. Sometimes police arrest them but main sellers are not arrested. We can see these children become hijacker, rober and engaged in other illegal activities.

But in this age children need more care and then we can expect better things from them. They need security of food, residence, education health support beside love of everyone. They need an environment where they will not face any distrace, fear. They need only love, affection etc from everyone.

Regarding to "Blog action day 2008 --- Poverty" and "World Child Right Day" I want to propose every people to take reponsibility for one poor child or family. I'll not propose to give some money or food or dress. I propose to give support for a child or a family for self-reliant. If it is difficult for a person, he can make a group to help a child or a family.

Beggars' problem in Bangladesh

Beggars are found in the villages, in towns and cities. In a word, beggars are found begging every where in Bangladesh. Mainly they gather on Friday near the mosques in the towns, bus stand, railway stations, in front of markets, and in the traffic signals. Most of the beggars are unable bodied. Some are blind, and some are lame. Some boys and girls are also found begging in the streets. Those who are very poor, landless or helpless may beg but some able bodied beg being averse to work. During the rainy season poor people of rural areas come to Dhaka for begging alms. They lead very miserable life. At the bus stand, market place and in the traffic signals old beggars and beggar children stretch their hands for taka (money). They cause troubles.

Sometimes they cause accident. It is a great problem in Dhaka or in the Bangladesh. Now a days they play many tricks to draw the attention of the people. Many falsehoods are being played by them. Many of them recite verses from the holy “The Quran” and some are found singing Islamic Gazal (song). While begging in the street some of them utter peculiar sound to draw the attention of the passers-by. Some of them carry testimonial of the local chairman or from any important person, or from the physicians to help them for the time being. Some beg for the treatment, some for the help of his daughter’s marriage. There are countless false tricks they apply. Children also take some tricks to beg. Sometimes they sell used/stale flowers during traffic signal, sometimes they beg in the park saying false story like as I have not take any food whole day, my step mother does not give me food etc. then they try to cry but few minutes later they laugh.

In some places some beggars are proved cheaters. Some able bodied are found pretending lame, blind or dump. Some healthy beggars pretend to be patients. Women beggars are mostly divorced or widow or bereaved of their husbands or parents.

A mosque, two gates near Nari Jibon office where were thirty six beggars Photo: One blind beggar going to beg to door to door by the help of his wife. They live in Khilgoan Railgate slum From a research on three husband beggars living at Modhupur thana in the district of Tangail it is known that all three hundred beggars are landless. Some of them may have the minimum land only for living or shelter but most of them live in other people’s home. Some of them live in the hut built by the road side. Some of them have their son or sons who are day laborers. Their sons’ also have a needy family. Their daughters generally work as maid servants from the childhood. Their daughters somehow get married by the help of employers or others with landless day laborers. The rural beggars are mostly above sixty. There is some interesting information in the beggars’ society which many of us don’t know. There are some rules to be involved in the beggars’ society or to be a professional beggar. Though there is no organized association of the beggars, they form unauthorized unity. Usually in the thana level or big bazaar area they have a fixed place where they meet hat day. There they can discuss their problem. They select one leader among them and they also select leaders (group leader) in the rural area. These leaders have religious knowledge than others. Under this leadership beggars must oblige some rules such as they beg alms in an area or in a village on the fixed day. None can beg after lunch time or Zohar namaz. None of them can violet the rule. Before starting begging beggar one must seek permission from the villagers. Having permission one has to take oath from the group leader. Group leader give him a stick of bamboo or wood and a begging bag. If a person involve in begging profession he could not quit the begging profession ever. Whole life he will continue begging and most of the time he will pray and obey the religious rules. He will pass his whole life in the way of religion. New beggar will invite some old beggars at the starting time. Beggars can not engage in any profitable business or income generating activities. They have a proverb that if any person fall in serious sick and then if he sacrifice his life in begging profession, Allah will recover him. We found some able bodied beggars who sacrificed his life in begging profession. One may beg alone or many in a group. But we have found some beggars who violet their rules. In the rural area have some beggars who are not professional they come seasonally facing serious problem for a while. In the village if you need some more beggars for a big function you need to inform only one beggar or rural beggars’ leader then they will collect how much you need.

Income source of beggars: In the Muslim society, there are some Islamic or religious values that encourage the people to give alms to the beggars. Those are as follows; “if a beggar comes to beg on horse back he should not be avoided.” The Muslims offer their food grains to the beggars at first before eating the new food of the new seasons. The Muslims offer money or rice to the beggars for the purpose of gaining good benefit of his business. The Muslims also offer new fruits of new trees to the beggars. After the death of any relative the Muslims entertain beggars to get blessings from Allah. The Muslims try to get the good wishes of Allah by helping the beggar. They give away sadga, fitra and jakat to the beggars. (Sadga means one man one day food where are 1kg rice, slight salt and something like curry, many families in the villages offer sadga every week).

Some time people in the village or towns promise in mind to give money to the beggars if he/she faces any serious problem or diseases or danger to be recovered. On the basis of the religious faith the Muslims feed the beggars to their heart’s content in any Islamic festival. For the purpose of any bigger function they invite them through the group leader. The beggars of rural areas gather in the market day. In towns they are mostly found in the bus stand, railway station, or in the launch ghat where there is crowd of people.

There is no unity in the beggar women. They do not get Sadga or any kind of beg offering. Usually they don’t follow beggars’ rules. They can go far from their dwelling place. But they attend the bigger festival or function with the help of the women of that house. Besides, beggar women work as messengers of the village women to carry massage to their relatives. They don’t receive as much beg as the male beggars receive.

The male beggars are called Fakir and the female beggars are called Fakirnee. This is the real picture of the beggars of Bangladesh.