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Abdul Shukkur
Caretaker
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Photo: Salman Rob |
"My mother died when I was really young. My father remarried just after my mother's death. I never got along with my stepmother and later on, I had to leave home because she did not want me there,” says Abdul Shukkur, a 34-year-old caretaker in a farm house in Gazipur.
“My uncle took me in after I left home at the age of 7. He brought me to Dhaka and gave me a job in a tea stall at Rampura. I used to make tea, paan, and sell all kinds of things you would find in a tea stall. From there I was approached by one of the regular customers and was offered to work in their home,” says Shukkur.
While talking about his childhood, Shukkur emotionally mentions, “There were nights when I went to sleep crying and woke up with dried tears on my cheeks. I missed my mother so much, and back then for a 7-year-old to survive in Dhaka city knowing that there is no going back home was not at all easy.” After working for a year as a house boy, I was sent to another house. I felt as though I was a part of the family. It has been almost 28 years ever since and I am currently working at their farm house as a caretaker.”
Speaking about how his life at their home was, Shukkur says, “My life revolved around the 3 children of the family. I raised all of them, starting from preparing their food and to sending them to school, and I did all that very happily. I loved the children.”
Abdul saved up enough money to buy his father a piece of land near his village. After he got married, the family he worked for gave him a piece of land for working hard for so many years.
Shukkur is finally content with his life with a happy family and a well paid job. Despite the hardships he had had to face from the age of 7, he has found a way to pull through with hard work and sincerity.
By Salman Rob
Mohammad Rubel Islam
Security Guard
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21-year-old Mohammad Rubel Islam is a security guard of Square Group. He came to Dhaka from Naoga in 2009. Due to poverty he dropped out of school when he was in class 8. Learning about a job vacancy from a friend, he applied and got in. But it was not as easy as it may sound like. He received full-fledged training and schooling on basic security operations from Ashulia Training Centre, run by Square. Life in the training centre was no less than a cadet college.
Rubel says, “Everyday we woke up at 5 in the morning, starting the day with prayers. We ran for five miles every morning. We had other physical exercises and drills. We had classes from 9 am to 12 pm. The classes included teachings on fire drills, guarding efficiently and how to observe surroundings maintaining a low key. We had to sit for written exams as well.”
Besides these physical activities and training programmes, they also had to take part in cleaning the area, working in the fields, learning about agriculture and much more. Karate, hand ball and cricket were also included in the curriculum and it was mandatory for all the trainees to take part in the sessions.
It has been 3 years since he started working in the security team. He started off with 2900 takas a month. Currently, he earns around 5000 takas a month. Though his accommodation is provided by the company, he has to bear his other expenses. He sends most of his salary to his ageing parents. His father is a farmer. Rubel says, “I send 3000 taka every month to my parents who live in the village. For me it becomes next to impossible to survive with just 2000 taka. But I am happy that my parents are prospering, and I believe they are using the money properly. My mother purchased several cattle with the money I sent her. My father is also investing more on agriculture. I would like to get into a better job with a better salary so that I can help them out more.”
Rubel has 9 hours of duty a day. Work aside, he loves walking around the parks and lakes with his roommates during his free time.
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury
Anupoma Shangma
Service Provider
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Anupoma Shangma is an SSC candidate from Rajdhani Uccho Bidyaloy. She belongs to the Gaaro community and hails from Netrokona. Alongside studying for her SSC exams, 18-year-old Anupoma works full time at the renowned Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon.
“I was always interested in learning the skills to maintain myself. After coming to know about such an opportunity from my pishi (paternal aunt) who works at a beauty parlor in Dhaka, I came to the city in 2010,” says Anupoma.
After receiving a year-long training from a beauty parlour at Farmgate, she joined Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon. She lives with her elder brother, uncle and aunt at the capital's Monipuripara. When asked why the majority of the girls coming from indigenous communities choose to work at parlours, she states, “It is like a trend. We constantly keep looking for jobs at parlours because of the lack of proper education and family earnings. Parlours require a bit of hands-on training; sometimes even raw applicants are also taken in and then provided with training. The salary is also quite attractive.” She asserts, “When one has to contribute to the family but lacks in quality education, this can be the best option.”
Currently she is an expert in doing manicure, pedicure, facials and oil massage. She is assisting the make-up section and hopes to be a skilled make-up artiste through the regular trainings provided. With the income, she maintains her personal expenses, pays for her school fees and sends the rest to her parents at home. Anupoma remains positive about her career. If she continues here and attends the trainings sincerely, then one day she may go on to become an all rounder or a section head.
After she is done with studies she hopes to work in other sectors. What she considers to be most important are the social skills that she is learning. According to her, social skills are something that are needed to function smartly in any sphere of life, in whichever sector one chooses to work in.
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury