Workers Unemployed Overseas
Non-Bangladeshi Samaritans offer new lease to life
The 13 Bangladeshi workers, abandoned by their employers in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, view photos, inset, they snapped of their fellows and put on display at an exhibition, “Inside Sajja, A Labour Of Light”, in Al Quoz of Dubai recently. Photo: Courtesy
Just when sheer hopelessness was taking hold of 13 Bangladeshi workers abandoned by their employers in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, a ray of hope shone upon them in the form of two female non-Bangladeshi Samaritans. With no food, water and electricity, these workers were left in a labour camp of Sajja in Sharjah in early 2009 amid an economic downturn. But the two noble women came forward to help them in their fight for survival, tending to their basic needs. The efforts culminated in the form of a photography exhibition of the workers themselves. Saher Shaikh, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, a banker by profession and founder of a charity, Adopt A Camp, first discovered the 13. Initially there were 20 Bangladeshi labourers working for Emirates Quality, a construction company, said one 25-year-old labourer, Farid Mia. One of the two owners left for India and another was jailed amid the debt crisis in 2009. Then seven of the workers managed to return home. “We had not been paid wages for over a year. Without electricity, water or food, we were totally at a loss,” Farid told The Daily Star over phone from the labour camp on February 6. All they could do then was file a complaint with the labour department of Sharjah. This is when Shaikh came forward to relieve them of their plight. A news report was published in a local newspaper on Shaikh's efforts. Then emerged the second Samaritan, Karen Dias, an Indian documentary photographer. Karen offered to share her photography skills with the workers and donated a few cameras. Soon the workers were taking pictures of their fellows in the abandoned labour camp. With Karen's inspiration and follow-ups, the photos captured by the workers progressed from posed snapshots to compelling story-telling images. Karen aimed to share these images with the public which would both generate income and raise social awareness in a creative manner. Thus, Gulf Photo Plus, a Dubai-based photography organisation, took the initiative to organise the exhibition, “Inside Sajja, A Labour Of Light”, at its gallery in Al Quoz. The exhibition began on January 18 and is scheduled to continue till February 29. A visitor to the exhibition, Prachee Kapoor, wrote on her blog, “This meant a lot to the workers. I saw them enjoying getting photographs clicked, giving interviews and being the center of attraction…Everybody had a picture clicked with them, even me. “It is these laborers who built our cities so convenient and beautiful for us to stay comfortably. This was such a heart warming, inspiring and brilliant act put together that I could not stop myself from sharing it.” The images taken by the labourers are quite compelling and visitors were moved by those, said Miranda McKee, art projects manager of Gulf Photos Plus, in response to an email query by The Daily Star. She said it is particularly important that the images are from the workers' own perspectives, rather than of merely an outsider looking in. “This is what makes the work very personal and powerful.” Prints and postcards featuring the photographs are available for sale. Each 57×38 centimeter print costs 400 UAE Dirham while postcard-sized prints are available for 20 Dirham. “All proceeds from the print sales will be distributed directly to the workers involved in the project,” said Miranda McKee. Talking to the Daily Star yesterday, she said they raised over 13,000 Dirham till date. Expressing his gratitude to Shaikh and Karen, Farid said, “We pray for both of them. We cannot imagine where we would have been if they were not there to help us.” However, these workers are still passing jobless days in the camp. Some of them got 3,000 to 5,000 Dirham as compensation from the labour department but their passports were still held by their employer. “It was a matter of great joy as photography was a unique experience for us. But life here is painful, especially when we cannot help our families back home,” said one of the workers, Sayeed Ali.
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