Understanding Bangladesh

Interviews begin

Interviews at Rajshahi University:

The day began with a visit to Rajshahi University to interview students about daily life in Bangladesh and their experiences with natural disasters.
We first met with the grades 9 and 10 students from Rajshahi University Lab School and then the university students (ages 17 to 22).

The students expressed concerns over flooding and drought and told accounts of being trapped on roofs, water shortages, fleeing to shelters, disease, and economic ruin.

In addition, we learned about relief measures the communities, national government, and NGOs had taken.

The students were also eager to describe their daily activities, hobbies, and career goals and were inquisitive about life in the United States as well.

Questions were asked regarding flooding in the United States, Katrina relief efforts, and global warming. The morning ended with smiles, hugs, and plenty of “snaps”.

Varendra Research Society:

After lunch at a local Chinese restaurant (with a Greco-Roman interior motif) we made a short stop at a local museum that housed various Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim artifacts dating back to the 1st century B.C.E.

Sopura Silk Mills: We then arrived at one of Rajshahi’s silk mills for a tour. We were able to see the step by step process of how the silk thread was magnificently turned into a beautiful sari, complete with embroidery and sequins.

I immediately identified the large machines with the textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, England. It was a trip back in time. I was amazed to see each step done by hand in what many would describe as deplorable conditions- OSHA’s worst nightmare indeed.

After interviewing some of the workers, we found the wages there averaged about ten to fifteen dollars a month, including overtime (however, one must remember that fifteen dollars go further in Bangladesh than the states).

Rajshahi Orphanage:

The afternoon’s final activity was a bittersweet visit to the local orphanage. We toured both the boys’ and girls’ dormitories and visited with the manager, who described how these children ended up at these facilities.

Most of the children arrived because they had lost both parents and did not have family to care for them. We were happy to hear that the children did receive an education and some job training, and we concluded our visit with a donation of supplies and some financial assistance.

-- Sarah   |    Login or Join to Post Comments