Stories about children’s days
Sagir, 14 year old boy
About Sagir’s life
Sagir lives with his mother, father and younger brother. He works drying leather sheets in open ground on the banks of the river in Dhaka. He describes the hot sun under which he works as “beyond human endurance”. It is so hot that all the street dogs are jumping in the river while he works.
Sagir’s family came to Dhaka during Covid after leaving their village. Sagir had been studying in his village but due to the pandemic his school was closed. Leather drying is the only work that Sagir has undertaken since coming to Dhaka. His parents are employed in the same work. His little brother is six years old and is not working.
The hot noon sun high above
After the schools were closed during lockdown, Sagir left his education for good. Now he does not feel like studying anymore
Sagir in his workplace
Sagir documented a typical day in his life for the CLARISSA research team. It comprises him working from 8am until sunset (about 7pm) carrying leather hides and pinning leather to the ground. He carries heavy loads and is doubled over for much of the day, while under considerable heat stress.
Sagir pins each hide to the ground to dry
It is so hot that I notice that dogs are jumping in the river every half an hour or so. The skin of the children who do this work has turned so dark, it is as if it has been burned to ashes.
Sagir gets brief respite under the shade of a Banyan tree, but he does not break for long, because the more leather he dries, the more he earns.
Sagir’s only source of shade is a Banyan tree, under which he briefly rests
The heat of the sun is so high that it is beyond human endurance.
Sagir’s day
Sagir’s experience
I like waking up feeling refreshed in the morning. I feel hungry so I go out to get food.
Researcher’s experience
The room that Sagir’s family lives in is very small and all the family’s possessions and furniture are piled up. It is very hot inside, due to high temperatures outside and a lack of windows or doors on three sides of the room.
Sagir arranging leather hides on the ground to dry in the sun.
Sagir’s experience
I work drying sheets of leather. I like to work but I am also bored by this work so at some points of the day I feel good and at some points I feel bad.
The heat of the sun does not feel good. As the day progresses, the increases, and I don’t feel well.
Researcher’s experience
The place where Sagir works is a huge area of open ground where leather sheets are dried. There is very little shade.
As the workers toil to dry the leather sheets, it seems that they burn their own skin in order to dry the cow skins. Their skin has turned so dark, it is as if they have been burned to ashes.
Sagir carries large amounts of leather from one place to another. It is a very tough job for an adult let alone a child. Other children (boys and girls) were doing the same work as Sagir. It was so hot that the dogs were jumping in the river beside the field.
Seeing the child work in such heat made me feel that the scene was worse than the barbarians of the dark ages. But this heat is much needed by the people working here, because the more leather sheets they can dry, the more money they can earn. So, they work until sunset.
Sagir was repeatedly saying that he does not want to do this work, and that some other alternative work would be better for him. From what I observed I also think doing this job is very risky. Doing it for a long time could really harm his health.
Single Banyan tree with people underneath
Sagir’s experience
After working in the sun for two hours, drinking tea feels good. Sitting under a big banyan tree by the river watching and enjoying the boats is so nice.
After enjoying the shade of the trees and riverboats, it is not pleasant to return to work in the sun.
By the end of the day my body is weak. Rest after work feels so good.
Researcher’s experience
Sagir went to sit under a large tree to take some rest. I asked him to sit a little longer, but he said that the longer he spent resting the greater his loss, as he would receive less money at the end of the week. Even though he wanted to rest, he could not rest.
Sagir’s experience
It takes me around two minutes to walk from the open ground where I work to my house. I mostly use the road but when I have free time I go by the riverside. The riverside after dark becomes a little unsafe sometimes, it is dark and there are muggers and also people who take drugs. I also think police informants are unsafe.
Researcher’s experience
His body is weak after working all day. Sagir goes home and takes a shower. I ask him if he would like to chill with his friends, but he says that he might go astray if he does that. When I take my leave from him, he bids me ‘’bye’’ with a big bright smile.
Explore Sagir’s journey
Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.
Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.
Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.