Washermen of Buriganga

Published: 19 Dec 2021 10:12 BdST Updated: 19 Dec 2021 10:12 BdST

The Buriganga has seen many changes, but the occupation of many people depending on the river has not changed. The water was cleaner when washermen Mohammad Ali Hossain, Gobinda Paul and Rakhal Karmakar began cleaning clothes in the river two decades ago. They are still in the same occupation although the water has become polluted. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu
  • Newspapers and TV channels publish reports on washermen cleansing clothes in the dirty water of the Buriganga river. “But who is responsible for polluting the water?” says washerman Gobinda Paul. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Newspapers and TV channels publish reports on washermen cleansing clothes in the dirty water of the Buriganga river. “But who is responsible for polluting the water?” says washerman Gobinda Paul. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Newspapers and TV channels publish reports on washermen cleansing clothes in the dirty water of the Buriganga river. “But who is responsible for polluting the water?” says washerman Gobinda Paul. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Newspapers and TV channels publish reports on washermen cleansing clothes in the dirty water of the Buriganga river. “But who is responsible for polluting the water?” says washerman Gobinda Paul. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Washerman Mohammad Ali Hossain says people used to give them various types of clothes for washing in the past, but now they get work from the decorators only as the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven other customers away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Washerman Mohammad Ali Hossain says people used to give them various types of clothes for washing in the past, but now they get work from the decorators only as the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven other customers away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Washerman Mohammad Ali Hossain says people used to give them various types of clothes for washing in the past, but now they get work from the decorators only as the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven other customers away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Washerman Mohammad Ali Hossain says people used to give them various types of clothes for washing in the past, but now they get work from the decorators only as the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven other customers away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Washermen who work on the bank of the Buriganga river become angry when they see someone taking their photos, because the publication of photos or videos of them washing clothes in the dirty water may hamper their job. They admit the river water is polluted, but they do not have an alternative source of water and place to dry clothes. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Washermen who work on the bank of the Buriganga river become angry when they see someone taking their photos, because the publication of photos or videos of them washing clothes in the dirty water may hamper their job. They admit the river water is polluted, but they do not have an alternative source of water and place to dry clothes. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • The Buriganga has seen many changes, but the occupation of many people depending on the river has not changed. The water was cleaner when washermen Mohammad Ali Hossain, Gobinda Paul and Rakhal Karmakar began cleaning clothes in the river two decades ago. They are still in the same occupation although the water has become polluted. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    The Buriganga has seen many changes, but the occupation of many people depending on the river has not changed. The water was cleaner when washermen Mohammad Ali Hossain, Gobinda Paul and Rakhal Karmakar began cleaning clothes in the river two decades ago. They are still in the same occupation although the water has become polluted. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Washermen who work on the bank of the Buriganga river become angry when they see someone taking their photos, because the publication of photos or videos of them washing clothes in the dirty water may hamper their job. They admit the river water is polluted, but they do not have an alternative source of water and place to dry clothes. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Washermen who work on the bank of the Buriganga river become angry when they see someone taking their photos, because the publication of photos or videos of them washing clothes in the dirty water may hamper their job. They admit the river water is polluted, but they do not have an alternative source of water and place to dry clothes. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Laundries, hospitals and decorators used to send clothes for cleansing in the past, but the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven the laundries and hospitals away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Laundries, hospitals and decorators used to send clothes for cleansing in the past, but the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven the laundries and hospitals away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Laundries, hospitals and decorators used to send clothes for cleansing in the past, but the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven the laundries and hospitals away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Laundries, hospitals and decorators used to send clothes for cleansing in the past, but the polluted water of the Buriganga river has driven the laundries and hospitals away. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • Washermen get Tk 700 for cleansing and drying clothes in a day. They do not get work every day. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    Washermen get Tk 700 for cleansing and drying clothes in a day. They do not get work every day. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

  • A washerman hangs clothes for drying on the bank of the Buriganga river in Dhaka’s Buriganga. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

    A washerman hangs clothes for drying on the bank of the Buriganga river in Dhaka’s Buriganga. Photo: Kazi Salahuddin Razu

 

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