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June 15, 2026

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Brass hunter sifts through dust to earn a living

For 25 years, Matiur Rahman Bepari has made his livelihood by finding brass in the dust created during shipbreaking at the Keraniganj dockyard in Dhaka. From morning till night, he can be seen hunting for brass at the dockyard.

Brass is also used alongside iron to repair or build ships. Matiur Rahman works to find brass during ship repairs at the Keraniganj dockyard. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Brass is also used alongside iron to repair or build ships. Matiur Rahman works to find brass during ship repairs at the Keraniganj dockyard. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sometimes buys the dust and waste generated during ship repairs to look for brass; sometimes he gets it for free. Afterwards, he separates the brass in various ways. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sometimes buys the dust and waste generated during ship repairs to look for brass; sometimes he gets it for free. Afterwards, he separates the brass in various ways. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
The market value of one kilogram of brass is Tk 800-900. Matiur Rahman is satisfied if he can collect two to three kilograms of brass a day. But, to get that amount, he has to spend all day collecting the dust from ship repairs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
The market value of one kilogram of brass is Tk 800-900. Matiur Rahman is satisfied if he can collect two to three kilograms of brass a day. But, to get that amount, he has to spend all day collecting the dust from ship repairs. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman works hard to sift brass at the Keraniganj, using his hands instead of a machine to separate the metal. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman works hard to sift brass at the Keraniganj, using his hands instead of a machine to separate the metal. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman first collects the dust from the ship repair site in the Keraniganj dockyard and takes it to the riverbank. There, he sits and sifts the dust, allowing air to blow it away and separate the brass. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman first collects the dust from the ship repair site in the Keraniganj dockyard and takes it to the riverbank. There, he sits and sifts the dust, allowing air to blow it away and separate the brass. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman Bepari collects brass by sifting through the dust from shipbreaking at the Keraniganj dockyard. For 25 years, he has earned a living in this way. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman Bepari collects brass by sifting through the dust from shipbreaking at the Keraniganj dockyard. For 25 years, he has earned a living in this way. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sifts through the dust created during shipbreaking and collects the brass particles he finds using a sieve. After filtering them through the sieve, he washes them in water. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sifts through the dust created during shipbreaking and collects the brass particles he finds using a sieve. After filtering them through the sieve, he washes them in water. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sifts through the dust created during shipbreaking and collects the brass particles he finds using a sieve. After filtering them through the sieve, he washes them in water. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Matiur Rahman sifts through the dust created during shipbreaking and collects the brass particles he finds using a sieve. After filtering them through the sieve, he washes them in water. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

bdnews24.com

Published : 24 Nov 2025, 05:23 PM

Updated : 24 Nov 2025, 05:23 PM

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