Eid without joy: The harsh truth of life in Dhaka's slums
In the charred remnants of the Mahakhali 'Saat Tola' slum, where a devastating fire recently razed homes and belongings, residents struggle to find even a semblance of festivity
While millions in Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with feasts, new clothes, and family gatherings the slum dwellers of Dhaka face a different reality.
In the charred remnants of the Mahakhali 'Saat Tola' slum, where a devastating fire recently razed homes and belongings, residents struggle to find even a semblance of festivity.
Many, like Sumi,36, a mother of two, are trapped in a cycle of poverty, and Eid is just another day of struggle for survival.
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A life of unending struggle
Sumi, who has spent her entire life in the slum, said, "My husband works hard, but his earnings barely cover our rent of Tk 5,000. I want to educate my daughters, but how? If I go to work, there's no one to protect them from the dangers here."
Her story echoes across the slum, where men work as rickshaw pullers, CNG drivers, or garment labourers, while women take up domestic work- all for wages that barely sustain them.
"Many days, we can't even afford two meals," Sumi adds.
Fire devastation deepens misery
Munzura 45, another resident, lost everything in the recent fire.
"How can we think of Eid when we're still fighting for survival?" she asks.
"No compensation, no help-just empty promises."
Even those employed in households find little relief. "My employer didn't give any Eid bonus," Munzura says. "They demand more work but pay less. We have no choice but to endure."
A slum built on uncertain foundations
Taslima, 40, who runs a small vegetable shop in the slum market, explains the precarious nature of their existence.
"These homes and shops were built on government land, but now they're treated as private property. We pay rent to outsiders who don't even live here."
Growing numbers, growing desperation
According to the 2014 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) census, Dhaka had 3,394 slums, housing around 650,000 people.
A decade later, that number has undoubtedly surged, with rural migrants - fleeing river erosion, poverty, and joblessness - swelling the slums further.
The 2023 BBS report reveals that most slum dwellers in Dhaka come from Barisal (13.54%), followed by Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Comilla, and Netrokona.
