The New Nation - Internet Edition

When Dhaka was still the provincial capital of former East Pakistan the unemployed villagers, especially the landless victims of river erosion, flood and cyclone, came to Dhaka in the hope of finding shelter and employment. In 1970 there were 730 slums in Dhaka city. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 the rate of migration increased significantly and by 1996 the number of slums in Dhaka rose to a total of 3007.

Kawran Bazaar slum has always been a place where internal migrants have found their footings, commenced on business ventures and started a life. Most of the residents of this slum comprise of the city's daily workers, rickshaw pullers, construction workers and employees of garments industries.

Some of the dwellers have been here for ages and claim it to be their permanent abode. 80 years old Ainuddin states, "Most of us own at least one house in this slum while others reside in rental ones." However, none of the 'house owners' have a title deed to the land on which their tiny shanty stands.

Slums are not merely homes for these people; for many these are work places as well. Some here run small grocery shops, hotels and some are involved in selling water to the slum dwellers.

However, recent city re-development plans have brought the existence of these slum dwellers under threat. If these plans see the light of day everything that is currently known as Kawran Bazaar will be demolished and with it will increase the rate of homeless in the city. Without rehabilitation plans for these masses implementation of these plans would give rise to serious urban and social problems.

Photos & Text by: Md. Iqram Chowdhury

Text Edited by: Humaira Jalil/DrikNEWS