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Paromita Shimsang
Service Provider
23-year-old Paromita Shimsang belongs to the Gaaro community, hailing from Modhupur, Tangail. Currently she is working as a service provider at Farzana Shakil's Makeover Salon. She is also studying Arts at Mokbul Hossain University College. After finishing her SSC exams in Modhupur, she came to Dhaka in 2008.
According to Paromita, the biggest advantage of studying at a college under Open University is that classes are held only on Fridays, so the weekdays are free for her to work. Her full time job requires her to work 10 hours a day. Her daily routine reflects the life of a hard working, independent girl. She lives with three other girls working in the same parlour. Every day, waking up at 6 am in the morning she studies and sets out for work after packing her own lunch. Going back to house at 9 pm at night she cooks her dinner and studies again for a while.
Currently she is working in the Facial Section. But she also enjoys doing manicure, pedicure and hair treatments. She is thrilled to be acquainted with so many girls from different districts and is grateful to have the support from her seniors. Through the years, her communication skills have developed notably, she believes.
When asked why most of the girls belonging to the indigenous community choose to work at beauty parlours, she says, “Most of the families in our community are not financially strong. As a result, for the most of us, our education remains incomplete. When girls reach adulthood, parents think of sending them to Dhaka to work in beauty salons where very likely, another relative is working. Moreover, ours is a matriarchal society and we need to be independent as early as possible.”
After graduation, she plans to sit for her BCS exams. She believes the work experience gathered in the parlour will guide her throughout her life.
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury
Mohammad Jamal
Driver
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Everyone who comes to Dhaka for the first time always has a story to share and so does Mohammad Jamal -- 32-years-old, and working as a driver of a private car. Jamal, at a very young age, came to Dhaka city in search of a job from Barisal. On his first day in Dhaka he felt lost among so many people. He looked for a job, but nothing came along. He did not have enough money for a hotel room and went to a closed tea stall which had a wooden table beside it and slept on it. A few hours later a stranger woke him up to ask why he was there, and with teary eyes Jamal shared his story and asked the stranger to help. He told Jamal to wait until morning. When Jamal had gone back to sleep again, he was woken up once more, this time by a few other strangers who took his belongings and fled. “I did not know what to do and I felt frustrated and lost. I started thinking that coming here was the worst mistake. But as time passed and morning came, the stranger who had said would help returned and was shocked to see me in such a state. He then took me back to his place and offered me to work with him as a night guard in an office. The first few days went by really fast but than I realised this wasn't the job for me. I told the owner that I wanted to leave but he suggested me to at least work for a month and then he would think of something else for me, which he did. He taught me how to drive his car, and later I became his personal driver. I enjoyed what I did. After working for a couple of years, he left the place and I had to start looking for other jobs.”
With his driving experience and license, he got another driving job which helped him to support his family, including his wife and a one-year-old daughter. Who knew that teenaged Jamal who had come to Dhaka with no hope would end up this way -- filled with more hopes for a better life?
By Salman Rob
Mohammad Russel
Manager of a Cafeteria
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Mohammad Russel is one of the many hard working people in the capital, for almost 24/7 to earn a decent living.
He is the manager of a cafeteria in a media house. When he came to Dhaka 4 years ago, he could find nothing to do, with an education of up to class 8. He landed a job at the accounts section of a garments factory. But after some issues at his work place, he had to quit the job. He soon came to hear of a vacancy for the position of a manager at a cafeteria. With the experience of managing accounts, he got the job and started working 5 months ago.
Alongside managing bills, Russel also helps the servers. He shares a good relationship with everyone and feels delighted to see and deal with all the people who pop in the cafeteria along the course of the day.
However, he finds it difficult to survive with only 3600 takas a month. He sends most of it to his mother and younger sisters who stay in Barisal. Yet, he feels fortunate to have a roof over his head and food that is free of cost. He says, “In this expensive city, it is difficult to come by a job with accommodation and food provided. I really do not know how I would have survived otherwise.” He stays at a room behind the cafeteria with other workers and receives three meals a day.
He wants to have a business of his own using the expertise and experience that he has gathered so far. He dreams of becoming an established businessman and look after his family to the best of his capabilities.
By Promiti Prova Chowdhury