Bangladesh: Habiganj and Srimongal

From Bangladesh 2010

Distribution 7

After a day of rest in Dhaka we were off to an early start -- before 6 a.m. -- to Habiganj and Srimongal, where we completed our first two-site day with two distributions. The first, at Habiganj, was for 380 bedkits, and the second at Srimongal, for 220 bedkits.

The distribution at Habiganj was held at the ancestral home of Gulru, wife of Rowly, one of the members of the Rotary Club of Dhaka. As usual, we tried to have some local flavour in the photo background - this time we used two baby goats. However, our background disappeared part way through the distribution when the young goat herder took away his goats because he thought they were getting too hot in the brilliant sun.

From Bangladesh 2010

The Srimongal distribution included children from twelve different ethnic groups, including Tipura and Kashia hill tribes and Tamils from South India - all attracted to the area over the years because of work available in the tea plantations surrounding Srimongal. This distribution proceeded very quickly since, for the first time during our distribution, the children were already dressed in their new clothes and ready to have their photos taken when we arrived.

At both locations, as we have become accustomed to and despite the best efforts of the organizers, many more parents and deserving children showed up than were selected -- hoping to be the recipient of a bedkit. Despite knowing that their child was not selected, they watched the full distribution and left only after the last bedkit was gone. This only emphasizes, once again, how valued our bedkits are to these poor communities.

From Bangladesh 2010

On the way to our overnight bungalows in the tea plantation we passed tea pickers on their way home from their day’s work. They were carrying freshly-picked tea leaves on their heads to the weighing station. The weight determined their salary for the day. On average these workers receive about 45 taka (60 cents) for their day’s efforts.

From Bangladesh 2010

Needless to say, many of the recipients of our bedkits today were the children of these workers. Before continuing, we stopped at a tea house to taste their special 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 layer teas.

Andy Greiner
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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