Driven out of home by 'monga'

No work, food at home...several hundred people coming from different areas of Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha gather at Panchpir Bazar everyday to go to other districts for work. They mainly go to Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet where they are engaged in odd jobs at nominal wages. PHOTO: STAR

They are transported to districts including Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, where they are engaged in brick fields, hill cutting and construction work.

Seeing large gatherings of labourers every day, transport agencies have opened bus services from Panchpir Bazar to other districts.

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A net work for supply of labourers has developed in the area. Some middlemen locally known as 'Sarders' are now engaged in collecting and supplying labourers.

These less-paid labourers are in good demand in Chittagong and Sylhet, specially for hill cutting and construction work because of high cost for local labourers there.

Every year during September-October, people from employers come to the area and engage 'agents' to collect labourers. The agents get commission.

Local people and agents says, over 8,000 labourers coming from different areas of Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts left Panchpiur Bazar in the last two months. All of them have been engaged in earth and hill cutting work in Chittagong.

For a month long contract, a labourer is given Tk. 1000 to Tk 1200 in advance. The amount may be Tk 2,500 for two months' contract, some Sardars said talking to this correspondent.

Manager of BRTC bus depot Shah Alam said hundreds of day labourers gather in Panchpiur Bazar for work during monga, flood, drought or any natural calamity.

But taking the opportunity of poverty, the agents deprive the labourers and realise hefty commission from the employers.

"I agreed with Quddus Sarder (agent) and received cash Tk 1000 on a month long contract as there is no work in my area ", said day labourer Mozibar who came from Kurigram.

When asked, Kuddus Sarder said, "I am not depriving them. I have provided them work during crisis".