Photography: Salman Saeed
The tea workers are so much cornered that they depend solely on the companies for food, medicine, accomodations, education, etc. They do not have choices about their life and amenities. That is because they do not have a social standing in Bangladesh.
The only social relationship that exists between the tea workers and the Bengalis is one of business. The Bengalis own majority of the shops in the area. On the weekly holiday,Sunday, some of the tea workers work in Bengali houses. But the Bengalis would hardly allow them into their houses. They treat them as untouchables. Glasses, plates, or other equipment are generally kept separate for the tea workers. However, among themselves whatever their identity or origin, the tea workers maintain quite good relations.
