In Bangladesh, heavy loads are traditionally carried on the head, as cranes or mechanized options are rarely used due to their high cost compared to manual labor. This practice, common in industries like construction and agriculture, comes at a steep health cost. Regularly bearing such heavy burdens places immense strain on the spine, leading to severe and potentially fatal spinal cord injuries over time. These injuries often result in chronic pain, paralysis, or even death. Despite the risks, economic constraints and entrenched practices perpetuate this method, highlighting the urgent need for affordable, ergonomic solutions to safeguard workers' health in Bangladesh.
Gabtoli docks along Dhaka's waterways, Bangladesh, October 2014
Sand porter, Gabtoli, Bangladesh, October 2014
Unloading rice bags, Chalanbeel chars in Pabna district, Bangladesh, October 2014
Sand cargo unloading and other morning activities, Gabtoli docks along the Buriganga river, Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 2014
Child with location bells overlooking boats being unloaded, Gabtoli terminal, Bangladesh, May 2015
Wheat cargo ship being unloaded, Chittagong dockyards, Bangladesh, Ocober 2014
Sand depot in Gabtoli, Dhaka suburbs, Bangladesh, October 2014
Unloading gravel from the boats, Gabtoli, Dhaka, October 2014
Sand collection point along the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Transportation barge being unloaded, suburbs of Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Sand carriers, Dhaka docks, Bangladesh, October 2014
Docks along the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 2014
Hard labour done manually, no cranes are available even in one of the main sand and gravel depot of the capital city, Gabtoli, Bangladesh, October 2014
Sand delivery by barge, Karnaphuli waterways, Chittagong, October 2014
Wheat transboarding, Chittagong commodity dockyards, Bangladesh, October 2014
Sand carriers, Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Dockyards of Sadarghat along the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Filling wheat bads before unloading the ship, dockyards along the Karnaphuli river in Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Daily contracted labour unloading a barge along the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Unloading bricks coming from the nearby brick kilns by boat, Gabtoli, Dhaka, May 2015
Dockyard workers packing wheat in a cargo ship, Sadarghat area in Chittagong, Bangladesh, October 2014
Every load earns a token. At the end of the day workers will be paid based on the number of token they have, making in average 2 to 3 usd per day. Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Daily workers at Gabtoli goods and transport terminal, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Brick porter, Bangladesh, May 2015
Sand and gravel is essential for the construction boom in Dhaka, Gabtoli terminal, Bangladesh, May 2015
Child issuing tokens to sand porters, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Porters having a break, Gabtoli docks in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Gabtoli terminal, Bangladesh, May 2015
Dockyard workers resting before the next boat, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Coal for fueling the brick kilns, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Heavy load porters, Gabtoli, Dhaka, May 2015
Stone crushing plant at the boat terminal along the Buriganga river in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Heavy loads are generally carried on the head, cranes are seldomly used being more expensive than manual labour. Carrying daily heavy loads eventually causes fatal spinal cord injury. Stone crushing plant, Gabtoli near Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
