An estimated 15 billion bricks are produced in Bangladesh each year by an industry that employs nearly 2,000,000 workers during the peak season and 800,000 during the off-season.
At the nearly 1,200 brick kilns surrounding Dhaka, workers often live in temporary shelters on site or near the smoking kilns.
It’s hard work with long hours for which the workers receive a payment of around $0.90 for each 1,000 bricks carried.
Smoke pours from a smoke stack as bricks bake in one of Dhaka's many brick kilnsA worker, covered in brick dust balances bricks on his shoulder as he carries a load from the kilnWorkers stack a dozen or more bricks on their heads after they are finished baking in the kilnsAfter bricks are moved or stacked, workers receive tokens for each load, which are later exchanged for cash - around $0.90 for each 1,000 bricks.People throughout Bangladesh carry loads on their heads like this many standing outside of temporary shantiesChildren at the brickyardUnbaked bricks, made of mud, dry in the sunChildren take a break from work at a Bangladeshi brickyard while a manager, the man with a cigarette and turquoise shirt, watches
Have started to collect bricks. I know this is odd but was cycling back from Micah’s brick kiln and saw a stack of bricks by the side of the road that were all stamped “SAM” (my son and wife’s name). With so many bricks there has to be one with your name on it too! Am looking. Actually I have been back to Micah’s kiln a couple of times since he visited. The workers are always as welcoming and the place comes to a stand still for photos. In a month the kiln will be underwater, the workers gone, and boats will be floating over it. Bangladesh has more rivers per sq km than any country in the world. The workforce will go back to their villages with the money from their chips!
One Response to “Another Brick in the Bangladeshi Wall: Part 2”
billbartlett
Have started to collect bricks. I know this is odd but was cycling back from Micah’s brick kiln and saw a stack of bricks by the side of the road that were all stamped “SAM” (my son and wife’s name). With so many bricks there has to be one with your name on it too! Am looking. Actually I have been back to Micah’s kiln a couple of times since he visited. The workers are always as welcoming and the place comes to a stand still for photos. In a month the kiln will be underwater, the workers gone, and boats will be floating over it. Bangladesh has more rivers per sq km than any country in the world. The workforce will go back to their villages with the money from their chips!