From CNG-auto rickshaw driver to tea-seller: A quest to survive | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
July 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025
From CNG-auto rickshaw driver to tea-seller: A quest to survive

Panorama

Masum Billah
07 July, 2021, 10:25 am
Last modified: 07 July, 2021, 06:32 pm

Related News

  • Auto-rickshaw driver returns 18 bhori gold jewellery left behind by passenger in Bogura
  • CNG drivers block Rajshahi-Naogaon highway over clash with bus workers
  • How a 24-year-old Moulvibazar CNG driver made over Tk20,000 from social media
  • Cylinder blast in CNG kills driver
  • Small businesses with health risks struggling to survive: Survey

From CNG-auto rickshaw driver to tea-seller: A quest to survive

During normal times, Abu Sufian drives a CNG. But this lockdown-- in which CNGs have been ordered to not ply the roads-- has turned him into a makeshift tea-seller

Masum Billah
07 July, 2021, 10:25 am
Last modified: 07 July, 2021, 06:32 pm
CNG driver Abu Sufian sells tea with his son Abdur Rob. Photo: Masum Billah
CNG driver Abu Sufian sells tea with his son Abdur Rob. Photo: Masum Billah

In a lockdown afternoon, we met Abdur Rob, a little boy, sitting on a tiny little tool on the edge of road 22 in Tilpapara of Khilgaon. He was sitting with a small plastic tray containing a pink-white flask, four packets of cigarettes, and a lighter.  

At first impression, Abdur Rob and his plastic tray would perhaps remind you of your childhood memories of playing 'Jolapati' – a game where children pretend to be grownups. The game involves buying and selling fake groceries, making imaginary families and getting involved in occasional feuds. While urban kids are barely familiar with this, kids in villages still play Jolapati.

Abdur Rob however was not playing. As we walked near to him, his father Abu Sufian, a CNG driver, emerged from behind. Father and son, both were wearing masks.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The CNGs do not have permission to run in the city during the lockdown except for the ones carrying media personnel. Abu Sufian was forced to stay at home since the first day of lockdown and his breadwinning activities have been put on a halt.

"So far, I have sold five cigarettes, and you are the first customer who took tea. I sold nearly Tk60/70 of my Tk700 investment."

But life doesn't. So, Abu Sufian looked for alternatives to survive.

A regular tea-seller would grab your attention by offering you to have a cup of tea or a cigarette.

But Sufian and his son kept staring at us. From the look, you could easily guess they were not sure what to do next.

Curious, we began the conversation by asking the kid's name, instead of asking for tea. Abdur Rob was shy and was reluctant to answer the query.

So, Father Sufian chimed in. He seized the little tool Abdur Rob was sitting on, and our conversation began.

CNGs Parked in lockdown. Photo :Masum Billah
CNGs Parked in lockdown. Photo :Masum Billah

"How long can I stay idle? I have five mouths to feed," Sufian's frustration was palpable.

Most CNG drivers in the city live in low-priced hostels. Their families usually live in villages because it is hard to maintain a family in Dhaka with the money they usually earn.

Sufian, however, lives in Dhaka with his entire family. His older kid, Abdur Rob, goes to school. His younger kind, Arafat, stays home with his mother and grandmother. Sufian's wife, Taslima, is a housewife.

Hailing from Shariatpur, Sufian was born and raised in Dhaka.

"My father died early. I used to work in a garage, ride rickshaws, and now drive CNG for the last five years," Sufian said.

How is life as a CNG driver?

"I drive CNG half a day. I have to pay the CNG owner Tk600 per day as daily rent. I cannot save much after paying that."

Life has always been tough for Sufian, but he somehow managed to go on – providing food for his family and paying the tuition for his kid's school.  

But ever since the stricter lockdown was implemented, his world turned upside down. With the meagre income he earned, he doesn't have much in savings.

Sufian simply cannot afford to stay at home. He had no idea how to sell tea. But still, with dilemma and hope, he had to try.

"I spent around Tk700 to buy four packets of cigarettes, sugar for tea, and plastic cups with a hope to earn a little to feed my family," Sufian said.

We asked him for a cup of tea. And from the very first sip of his cinnamon-flavoured tea, you will realise this is no regular 'tong' tea of your road-side tea stalls.

"My wife makes good tea," Sufian smiled.

Although he was selling tea for the first time, Sufian said he patrolled the entire area in the morning to find the best place to sit.

"The edge of road 22 in Tilpapara is good because there is no other tea stall nearby, and there is a mosque two roads apart. The worshippers walk by this road to go to the mosque," Sufian said.

However, as we went on talking, worshippers were returning from the mosque. Some of them stood for a moment curiously, but didn't buy anything from Sufian.

"So far, I have sold five cigarettes, and you are the first customer who took tea. I sold nearly Tk60/70 of my Tk700 investment," Sufian sounded hopeless.

As more people were returning from the mosque, a police car, patrolling on the streets, approached us.

At the first glance at the police car, little Abdur Rob became restless. He is scared of cops.

Receiving a green signal from his father, Abdur Rob grasped the plastic tray and ran away within a blink of an eye.

Abu Sufian followed his son.

Maybe, he will come again the next day with a renewed hope to sell some cigarettes and a few cups of tea. After all, it's just the beginning of a new month. It is not only the food they need to worry about, he has to pay the house rent as well.

Features / Top News

CNG driver / tea-seller / quest / survive

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Abul Barkat at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 11 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Economist Abul Barkat sent to jail in Tk297cr embezzlement case
  • Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
    Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients
  • BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    No scope for electoral alliance with Jamaat, door not closed for NCP: BNP's Salahuddin

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
    SSC, equivalent results: Pass rate drops to 68.45%, GPA-5 also declines
  • In terms of stream of education, girls maintained their excellence as well. Photo: TBS
    SSC 2025: Girls dominate boys by over 5%
  • Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
    Govt vehicle purchase, foreign trip, new building construction banned: Finance ministry
  • Students sit for SSC exam at Motijheel Girls' High School on 10 April 2025. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    SSC exam results out: Here's how you can check online and via SMS
  • The overall pass rate across all boards this year, 68.45%, is significantly lower than last year's. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SSC 2025: Rajshahi board records highest pass rate, Barishal lowest
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    35% tariff: Bangladesh, US 'agree on most issues' as first day of talks ends

Related News

  • Auto-rickshaw driver returns 18 bhori gold jewellery left behind by passenger in Bogura
  • CNG drivers block Rajshahi-Naogaon highway over clash with bus workers
  • How a 24-year-old Moulvibazar CNG driver made over Tk20,000 from social media
  • Cylinder blast in CNG kills driver
  • Small businesses with health risks struggling to survive: Survey

Features

Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

Kunming rising: China’s emerging healthcare hub draws Bangladeshi patients

20m | Panorama
Photo: Collected/BBC

What Hitler’s tariff policy misfire can teach the modern world

22h | The Big Picture
Illustration: TBS

Behind closed doors: Why women in Bangladesh stay in abusive marriages

1d | Panorama
Purbachl’s 144-acre Sal forest is an essential part of the area’s biodiversity. Within it, 128 species of plants and 74 species of animals — many of them endangered — have been identified. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS

A forest saved: Inside the restoration of Purbachal's last Sal grove

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

Trump-Netanyahu in new strategy on Gaza issue

10m | TBS World
Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

Shocking science: why birds stay safe on electricity lines

1h | TBS Stories
Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

Threat of 35 percent tariff on Canadian goods

2h | TBS World
Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

Israel ready to strike back if Iran threatens: Katz

3h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net