For most of his adult life, the 33-year-old has worked menial and risky jobs far from his home and family. He is among millions of impoverished Bangladeshis forced to eke out livelihoods as migrant workers.
"I have no land to cultivate and I'm the only working hand in my family. It's hard to stay far from home, but I'm working hard for a better future for my child," he says, showing pictures of the cherubic little girl on his cellphone.
The work is difficult and dangerous. The workers have no safety equipment or masks to protect themselves from the fumes and aluminum dust.
The toil earns the men and women an average of USD 10 a day. Why do so many people leave their hometowns for such a small sum? Because more than 40 million of Bangladesh's 166 million people survive on less than USD 2 a day.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
