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K M Asad

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Can COVID19 Stop the Wheel? by K M Asad

Can COVID19 Stop the Wheel?

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Mojammel Haque (60) poses for a... to see his crying as a father.

1 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Mojammel Haque (60) poses for a picture at the empty street in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. As day labour I drive a vehicle to carry tiles. For this COVID lockdown, last 10 days all the tiles market shut down and I lost my work. Now I don’t have money to feed my children. I came outside and sitting up my vehicle because my little son crying for food. It’s not possible for me to see his crying as a father.

Khokon (20) poses for a picture...th rickshaw to feed his family.

2 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Khokon (20) poses for a picture at the empty street in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. He comes from a village Netrokona a few years ago to this city. Before this lockdown, his mother works people's houses in this city. After COVID lockdown no one wants any outside people in their home for safety reasons. The reason Khokon comes outside with rickshaw to feed his family.

Hafijur (35) poses for a pictur...buy medicine for his treatment.

3 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Hafijur (35) poses for a picture at the empty street in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. He is staying alone in Dhaka city. 3 months ago his father made an accident and broke his leg. Everyday Hafijur needs to send around USD $4 to his father to buy medicine for his treatment.

Mohor Ali (45) Waiting for a cu... will do in this lockdown time?

4 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Mohor Ali (45) Waiting for a customer in the empty street at Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. He comes from a village Lalmonirhut to this city 30 years ago. Last few hours he earns only USD half a dollar. He asked a question me. As he is poor but not a beggar. He doesn’t have the option to go begging in the street. Without money how, he feeds his family. Now what he will do in this lockdown time?

Romjan (40) poses for a picture... if doesn't earn money.

5 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Romjan (40) poses for a picture at the empty street when he waiting for passengers in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. I asked him are you know the COVID can take your life? He just replied to me yes, I know. But will die for hunger if doesn't earn money.

Mohammad Malek (44) poses for a...ng from them to feed my family.

6 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Mohammad Malek (44) poses for a picture at the empty street when he waiting for passengers in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. Our Minister giving food to the needy peoples. But till now I don't get anything from them to feed my family.

Mojnu Mia (50) poses for a pict...ed around USD $4 in four hours.

7 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Mojnu Mia (50) poses for a picture at the empty street when he waiting for passengers in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. I have seven members in my family. I and my big son are earning. After this lockdown working for around 4 hours, I earn only USD half a dollar. Before this situation I was earned around USD $4 in four hours.

Rofique (48) poses for a pictur...f ghosting situation will over.

8 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Rofique (48) poses for a picture at the empty street when he waiting for passengers in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. I start my Rickshaw from the morning and now Sun almost going down. Till now I don’t eat anything. Don’t know when this type of ghosting situation will over.

Abdul Alim (45) Waiting for a c...want to stand us in the street.

9 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Abdul Alim (45) Waiting for a customer in the empty street at Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. I have 7 members in my family and only I can earn. Last 6 hours I just earn only USD $3. But for this bad covid19 police don’t want to stand us in the street.

Alam (35) poses for a picture a...very few amounts of passengers.

10 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Alam (35) poses for a picture at the empty street when he waiting for passengers in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. He said the street is empty. But sometimes people need to come out for an emergency reason. Driving a full day found very few amounts of passengers.

Badol (28) Waiting for a custom... any buyer who takes my grapes.

11 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Badol (28) Waiting for a customer in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. I have a family and to feed them. But after lockdown I don’t found any buyer to buy my product. I walking in the street but don't found any buyer who takes my grapes.

Sobuj (40) poses for a picture ...e permission to stay his house.

12 of 12 © 2024 K M Asad

Sobuj (40) poses for a picture at the empty street in Dhaka city during the nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the (COVID-19) coronavirus pandemic in Bangladesh. He has 2 children and a wife. Every month he needs USD $50 for his home rent and after that needs money to feed his family. He said I wait a long time at home for lockdown but now I don’t have any option. If I don't give money to the building owner he doesn’t give permission to stay his house.

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Public Project

Can COVID19 Stop the Wheel?

Copyright K M Asad 2024

Updated Jun 2020

Location Dhaka, Bangladesh

Topics Adolescence, Covid-19, Documentary, Editorial, Essays, Hope, Human Rights, Islam, Lifestyle, Migration, Pandemics, Photography, Photojournalism, Politics, Portraiture, Poverty, Relationships, Reporting, Spotlight, Street

Bangladesh is a growing country on the list. But most people living under the poverty level. Now a ghostlike place Dhaka fell silent amid the coronavirus scare. For the coronavirus pandemic Bangladesh government lockdown all public transport from 26 March 2020 and now we don’t know how it will be finished. After the effect of this lockdown, most of the day labor and poor Rickshaw puller got affected very badly. Rickshaw is the most important transport for Dhaka city. The driver of Rickshaw comes from the lower level in Bangladesh society. Many people are driving Rickshaw for livelihood. Many Rickshaw pullers migrated from the village to urban city Dhaka. It's happening because the village of Bangladesh doesn't have enough job opportunities. In this coronavirus bad situation, I talk with so many Rickshaw pullers. 60 years old Monjumia a Rickshaw puller says after working 5 hours I got only BD 30 taka (like USD half a dollar) because I don’t get any passenger in the empty street. He asked me "please tell me with this money how I give food to my family". After that, I talk with so many Rickshaw pullers and found their bad situation going more and more difficult. I asked another question to a Rickshaw puller why you come outside home in the bad lockdown situation. He replied me yes, I know this virus can take my life. But if I don’t come out how I feed my children I don’t have any option without work.

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