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Shaha Zalal
Waiter
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"One of these days, I want to implement my experiences to do something good for Bangladesh,” says Shaha Zalal, a 25-year-old studying Tourism and Hotel Management in Ibais University and working at Nandos as a waiter. Zalal is currently working 6 days a week, with a 9 hour shift everyday. Talking about his future plans Zalal says, “This is not something I am forcing myself to do. I am getting to know how the management works internationally, since Nandos is an international franchise with its own rules and policies. In the near future I would like to go abroad and finish my MBA and later on, work in some tourism firm or a hotel. I hope the government takes some proper initiatives for our tourism sector as our nation has a huge scope to develop this sector. You do not get places like Bandarban, Sylhet, Sundarban and the longest beach anywhere else. And if I get the chance, I would love to do something for our tourist sector and make Bangladesh an attractive holiday destination.”
“I barely have any time to socialise with people. My shift starts at 9 am in the morning and ends at 6 pm at the evening. After that I have my classes which go on till 9 pm. I am happy with what I am doing. I feel independent and when I see people my age still surviving on their parents' money, I feel like I am the bigger person. Since I have two brothers and two sisters, I don't want to put any more pressure on my parents.”
Zalal ends by saying, “It is really sad how people in Bangladesh tend to look down on this profession. In other countries, we see teenagers working in malls and restaurants all the time. There is nothing to look down upon; at the end of the day we are serving you the food, and making sure you enjoy it.”
By Salman Rob
Mohammad Badshah Mia
Night Guard
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Photo: Salman Rob |
Mohammad Badshah Mia is a 32-year-old night guard in Uttara Model Town, Dhaka. Badshah was rebellious as a child and ran away from home because of family troubles. He thought coming to Dhaka would solve everything but that was not the case. He ended up unemployed for over a year. He would roam around with his elder brother, a truck driver, and look for jobs here and there.
“After almost a year of looking for jobs, I finally had the opportunity to work in an apartment in Dhanmondi as a house guard. After working there for 2 years, I had to leave the job since the money was not enough to run my family. A friend referred me to a better paying job as a night guard in Uttara. It has been 4 years since I joined the Uttara guard committee,” says Badshah Mia.
Life is still difficult for Badshah Mia, with not enough money to run his family. He says, “Renting a house in Dhaka city is very difficult and when you have a wife and a child, security matters the most. What I get is not enough to save up for emergency.” Talking about working hours, Badshah Mia elaborates, “I barely get any time to spend with my family. I work 30 days a month -- taking shifts between the nights and days. My day shifts are from 6 am to 2 pm and sometimes we have to stay back the extra hours. The night shifts are from 10 pm to 6 am. The job is hectic but there is a saying that even a tiger would eat grass when there is nothing left to eat, and so I have no option but to continue with what I do.”
“I regret leaving school at an early age. I have learned from my mistakes and in future I will make sure my children do not walk the same path,” he says. “At the moment I am looking for a job. I got offers from my brother to become a driver. If my license comes out in time and everything goes well, I might soon begin a profession in driving.”
By Salman Rob
Shumi Akhter
Sales Assistant
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At present times, retail store is a sector that can be seen bustling with students. Students are working part-time in these stores and becoming part of the broader enterprise. Shumi Akhter is one such enthusiastic working student.
Working part-time at retail stores can be complementary for the students of Accounting, believes Shumi Akhter. A first year student of Accounting at Tejgaon College, 19-year-old Shumi works as a Sales Assistant at Shwapno.
A year back, she was selected through an on-spot interview and after a daylong training on products, customer service and merchandising, she began to work as a part-timer. She works from 7 am to 2 pm, 6 days a week and takes classes on her off days. But if there is an exam she adjusts her shifts accordingly which is possibly because of the cooperation from her supervisors and colleagues. She thinks this job can be convenient for students. Such jobs add to their experience and also "put enough money in their pockets."
Besides college and work, Shumi takes two classes in a private coaching centre. For better time management, she chose her shift in the mornings so that she can take classes after her work at the store. “I am learning many new things without being a burden to my family. With sincerity, promotion in this sector is quickly achievable. My family only pays my college fee. I am quite content with the way things are going for me. ”
Shumi lives with her family in Dhaka. Studying a fraction of Business Studies, she is able to put a lot of things she studies into practice. Shumi encourages other students like her to get into such jobs to cultivate a sense of responsibility and eventually become independent.
By Promity Prova Chowdhury