Portraits of Pain | Taslima Akhter

Portrais of pain

The look of every individual expresses their horrible memory and scream for their spoilt dreams. Dalia Amena, Mitaly, Asma and all other are the victims of Rana Plaza, a nine-story commercial building that collapsed on 24 April 2013. With more than 1134 workers’ deaths and sufferings by the collapse, their lives also have fallen into a cycle of distress. Some of them were stuck in that death trap for hours after hours or days. Some were rescued; some became paralyzed but still fighting hard to survive. Some have lost their beloved one and only breadwinner member of the family. They have lost their daughter, son, husband or wife. These people are the witness of cruel history of workers being killed. They are haunted by their unbearable memories of collapse. Shocking memories break up their sleeps at night. Known as the cheapest labor of the world, 4 million garment workers of Bangladesh are toiling down their lives. Among them 80% are women. Workers toil from dawn to dusk for a minimum wage of BDT3000 taka a month (less than 37 $) till 2013. Government declared a new gross minimum wage BDT 5300 (near about $66), which is not sufficient for them to survive.This portrait story represents those workers.

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Dalia (18) worked at Rana Plaza with her sister, Poly Akhter (17). Dalia decided not to go to work on the day of the collapse; her sister was worried that they might not get paid for the day's work, so she went. After 8 days of collapse Poly’s dead body was found in the rubble. Rana Plaza an eight-storied commercial building at Savar, Dhaka collapsed on 24th April 2013. More than thousand garment workers died by the collapse. Savar, Dhaka. Bangladesh. 1st June 2013

"Because of our poverty, I had to send my loving sons to the garment trade," says Anwara Begum (40). Anwara lost her two sons (missing worker Shaheen Reza (21) and dead worker Al Amin(18) ) in the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse. Panch bibi, Joypur Hat, Bangladesh. 2nd June 2013

Amena (22), is a machine operator at Ether Tex. While she was waiting to be rescued, she spoke to a man who would not leave behind his sweetheart, who was trapped in the rubble. They died together; Amena survived. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 5th June 2013

Parul Begum (40), mother of a worker named Rehana who is listed as missing after the Rana Plaza factory collapse. Panch bibi, Joypur Hat, Bangladesh. 2nd June 2013

Khadiza(20), lost her husband Khokon(26), who worked with her at Phantom Garments in Rana Plaza. They were together when the building collapsed. She talked to him stacked under the rubble. Later only she could survive. After 18 days she got Khokon’s dead body. They were married less than two years ago. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 7th June 2013

“I lost my two loving daughters at Rana Plaza, I will never get back my daughters, nobody can compensate my loss”- says Rasheda(45), mother of three workers of Rana Plaza. Among them Selina (23) died, Sumi (19) is listed as missing and only Rezia (16) survived. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 14th September 2013

Asma (25), who was rescued from Rana Plaza, still has trouble sleeping. She says she resorted to drinking another worker's urine to avoid dehydration while trapped in the rubble. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1st June 2013

Shahana Akhter (38) mother of Poly Akhter (17) grieves for her daughter. Her other daughter, Dalia (18), also worked in the factory complex but did not go to work on the day of the collapse. Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1st June 2013

''God did not bless on us, that’s why god has taken my daughter from me and still I have not found her trace’’ says Runa Rani Das (35) mother of missing worker Shomapti Rani Das. Runa Rani along with her two daughters Shomapti (18) and Preeti Rani Das were working at Rana Plaza. Somapti’s dead body was found and Runa is still missing. Savar . Dhaka. Bangladesh. 13th October 2013.

Anjuayara (37) Mother of missing worker Hridoy Hossain (22). Savar ,Dhaka, Bangladesh. 9th August 2013

Mitaly (20) wife of missing worker Jadob Dash Nishi. Mitali's husband Jadob liked to go outside with her wife. Mitaly starts crying when she remembers her husband in a hindu religious festival Durga puja. Savar. Dhaka. Bangladesh. 13th October 2013.