Dreams Crushed Like Bricks

Santa sweats next to her mother. At 10, she was not supposed to swing a hammer and crush bricks but hold a pen in her hand and have fun with kids at school -- at least it is what society likes to visualise children. Photo: Anisur Rahman

At 8, her younger brother Yusuf struggles even to lift a hammer. The two siblings represent several lakh children doing hazardous jobs, with the government doing little to protect them. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Fate has brought the family to this yard, in Dhapa of Narayanganj's Pagla, after their father abandoned them. The three work throughout the day and can crush around 500 bricks, earning only Tk 450. The photo was taken yesterday. Photo: Anisur Rahman