Saifur Nishad, Manohardi (Narsingdi)

Two people are sitting with bowls in a small place. Some of those who buy fish stand here to cut fish. The bag full of fish is handed over to them. They carefully cut the fish inside the bag and put it back in the bag. In exchange for this work, only 10 taka per kg is being given.

I was talking about Chandra Burman (50) and Kumud Burman (60) of Manohardi fish market in Narsingdi district. Fishing is their profession. The family survives on the income earned from shopping in the market all day. Again the loan is paid with this money. For this, they spend their time in the market every day from morning to night.

Their home is in Kamargaon village of Kapasia upazila in neighboring Gazipur district. However, without sleeping at night, he spends the whole day in his charming market. They work to cut fish bought by people. The profession of comforting housewives. This relief work is done from morning to 10/11 pm for just 10 taka. The work continues as long as the fish is traded in the market.

Chandra and Kumud do not have time to talk during the market. They are both on the same path. Earlier they used to sell fish in the market. But they lost their capital in the flow of time and now they are engaged in fish cutting profession. This fish cutting job is now more preferred than the fish business. It requires no capital, no risk of loss. It doesn't have to worry about the rest of the sale. All income is cash. They earn from 800 to 1000 taka per day.

The family runs on this hard-earned money. Also interest on other loan installments has to be paid. They do not know when more than a century has passed in the profession of fishing. They only know that they have to work and spend their lives with discipline.