Child labour is being sold in Manikganj brickfield

Children of different ages are selling their dreams working at various brickfields in Manikganj to quench their hunger. These children are working hard to put food before their table. The bright future of these children is being crushed by the black smoke of the brick kilns.

It is learned that the brick kiln chiefs are using these child labourers from different parts of the country for various purposes. Some of these child labourers have a daily wage of 300 to 400 taka and some have a weekly wage of 2,000 to 3,000 taka. Some are also working as day labourers on a monthly basis. Mohammad Shah Alam Islam, a 12-year-old child labourer who came with his mother from Paikgachha Upazila of Khulna District to City Bricks of Atigram Union in Sadar Upazila of Manikganj, said he has been working in the brickfield through Sardar for a week. His daily wage is 400 taka. Yamim, another 18-year-old child labourer from Paikgachha, said he had been working at City Bricks for about six months. Yamim can't even remember how much his wages were in a sweaty look at the broken bones. He also said that there is a lot of pain in the brick kiln. Mehedi Hasan, an 11-year-old child labourer at the same kiln, said she came to the brick kiln with her parents after studying up to class one. He has to bring bricks in a van and arrange the bricks.

Going to the spot, it can be seen that Messrs. City Bricks is operating brick kiln activities in Atigram Union of Manikganj Sadar Upazila by destroying the environment and agricultural land illegally without any legal documents. In this illegal brick kiln, about 15 child labourers of different ages are being made to work in the dust, heavy wind of coal and black wash without any mask or safety clothes. These child labourers are working tirelessly in the bricks without any security in the morning and evening.

Brickwater chief Akram Hossain said there are about 15 child labourers in City Brics. I don't work with children. Other chiefs worked in the brickyard with the children.

Md. Panir Hossain, owner of Messrs. City Bricks, said, “As far as I know, there are no child labourers in Bhata. The chiefs know if there are child labourers. Even if there are child labourers, they are not made to do heavy work. They turn bricks and do small things, not hard work.

Manikganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer(UNO) Mohammad Iqbal Hossain said, "I did not know about child labour in the brickfield. " This is new to me. I learned from you. Appropriate legal action will be taken against child labour in a brick kiln.