While millions in Bangladesh celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with feasts, new clothes, and family gatherings, the dwellers of Dhaka's shanty towns face a different reality.
In the charred remnants of Mohakhali Saat Tola shanty town, 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 for her, Eid is just another day of struggle for survival.
A life of unending struggle
Sumi, who has spent her entire life in the shanty town, said: “My husband works hard, but his earnings barely cover our rent of Tk5,000. I want to educate my daughters, but how? If I go to work, there is no one to protect them from the dangers here."
Her story echoes across the settlement, where the men work as rickshaw pullers, CNG-run autorickshaw drivers or garment workers, while the women take up domestic work - all for wages that barely sustain them.
“Many days, we cannot even afford two meals," Sumi added.
Fire devastation deepens misery
Munzura, 45, another resident, lost everything in the recent fire. “How can we think of Eid when we are still fighting for survival?" she asked.
“No compensation, no help - just empty promises."
Even those employed in households find little relief. "My employer did not give any Eid bonus," Munzura said.
"They demand more work but pay less. We have no choice but to endure."
Uncertain foundations
Taslima, 40, who runs a small vegetable shop in the local market, explained the precarious nature of their existence.
“These homes and shops were built on government land, but now they are treated as private property. We pay rent to outsiders who do not even live here."
Growing numbers, growing desperation
According to the 2014 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) census, Dhaka had 3,394 shanty towns, 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.
