Bangladeshi photojournalist GMB Akash

Distributed about 500 raincoats among the Rickshaw pullers in Dhaka.

Dear friends,

By the grace of God, in the last few days I have distributed about 500 raincoats among the Rickshaw pullers in Dhaka.

Rickshaw pullers are quite a familiar figure in Bangladesh. Even working from dawn to dusk, they lead a very hard life and earn very little to provide for the two square meals a day for their family.

During the monsoon season rickshaw pullers suffer the most in order to give us services. Even in the heavy rains, they have no choice but to drive their rickshaws. They get wet in the rain all day and sometimes get sick.

Last week when I was riding in Hafizur’s rickshaw, I saw him shivering with cold and he was totally drenched by rain. When I asked him why he was shivering like this even in this scorching hot summer?

Hafizur told me that, he has been suffering from fever for the last three days but he has been driving the rickshaw every day, because otherwise his family will have to starve.

When I asked, why don’t you buy a raincoat? He replied, the price of a good quality raincoat is around 800 to 1000 taka and it’s impossible for him to afford one.

There are thousands of rickshaw pullers in Dhaka City like Hafizur who also can’t afford a raincoat in this monsoon season and suffer every day in the heavy rain.

A good quality raincoat can serve for many years. So I decided to buy good quality raincoats and distributed 500 raincoats among 500 Rickshaw Pullers to keep them dry and reduce their sufferings in this Rainy season.

I am only one, I cannot do everything, but still I can do something…

Thank you for all your continuous support and humanity. I am always thankful and grateful to you all for appreciating my efforts and journey. Know that, your kind words mean a lot to me.

Sending my love, respect and prayers towards you.

Love and Light

_GMB Akash

GMB Akash

Photojournalist and Profile Photographer at Panos Pictures, London

Founder of GMB Akash Institute of Photography, Dhaka

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gmbakash

Website: http://www.gmb-akash.com/home

Photography Workshop: http://www.gmbakashworkshop.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gmbakash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmbakash/

Blog: https://gmbakash.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GmbAkash

Breaking the silence!

This month I have started gifting ‘Hygiene Bags’ among unprivileged teenage girls who are really in need but who can’t afford it.

We have distributed 200 hygiene bags to 200 girls just in the last 2 weeks. I have been doing this action for some time now and these 200 girls will receive this ‘Hygiene Bag’ every year until they have completed their education and they have started earning enough for themselves to afford buying their own hygiene products. I do this so that these 200 girls will find some relief during their monthly hardships and be able to concentrate on their studies and move towards a healthy future.

A ‘Hygiene Bag’ is not just a gift bag, it represents happiness for a sister. It facilitates the journey towards a healthy future for a girl but mostly, it gives relief from the physical and mental suffering at that time of the month.

Every bag consists of 15 packets of sanitary pads for one year, 6 inner garments, two towels, 24 bars of soap for washing and bathing as well as an informative letter from me.

Almost 80% of the women in Bangladesh do not use sanitary napkins mainly due to their high cost or simply due to their lack of awareness which leaves them susceptible to a myriad of health problems.

I personally visited and talked to the girls. Most of them mentioned that they cannot afford these products or their families simply don’t buy them for their girls. In many cases, they cannot even tell the family of their need because they are already in severe poverty.

Many thanks to my volunteer friends who were in the field these last two weeks beside me. They helped with the buying and transporting of the products to different parts of Bangladesh as well as distributing and giving counsel to the girls.

Please keep me in your prayers so I can always do my small part to serve the people in need till my last days.

You can also be a part of making some of them smile; you can also tell them they are loved; you can also give them some hope for a day or for a lifetime. If you want to contribute, please email me at akashphoto@gmail.com

Love and Light!

GMB Akash

Photojournalist and Profile Photographer at Panos Pictures, London

Founder of GMB Akash Institute of Photography, Dhaka

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gmbakash

Website: http://www.gmb-akash.com/home

Photography Workshop: http://www.gmbakashworkshop.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gmbakash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmbakash/

Blog: https://gmbakash.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GmbAkash

Love for Rudro!

I have some good news to share with you about Rudro’s family! Rudro’s family had endured such hardship when his father had a stroke that crippled him greatly and the family had become destitute.

I had been taking care of all of Rudro’s expenses for his education since he was in class 9.

Rudro is now studying in the 2nd year in a highly prestigious Notre Dame College (Notre Dame College is the best college in Dhaka as well as in Bangladesh) And I will continue helping his family till he gets a job and starts earning for them himself.

I am sharing a short video where Rudro wanted to express his gratitude.

“Our little help, little words, little recommendations could bring light in some dark places of this earth.”

For the last two years I have been studying at the prestigious Notre Dame College in Dhaka. In 2021 my education at Notre Dame will be completed. From class 9, Akash brother took care of all my expenses so that I could go to school.

_ Rudro

My father is sick; he is paralyzed and unable to earn anything. Without Akash brother’s help, my education would have stopped long ago. Four years ago Akash brother gifted us a cow with a calf.

_ Rudro

We have now received four calves from that cow. After raising those calves, we sold them and got a good amount of money. If Akash brother had not helped me by giving us this cow and the first calf, I have no idea what would have happened to my family, my education and my father’s treatment.

Like me, Akash brother helps many people from our village with small family businesses or scholarships for education. Akash brother built a school in our village where around 150 poor children receive nearly free education. I pray for Akash brother so he can help more people.

_ Rudro

GMB Akash

Photojournalist and Profile Photographer at Panos Pictures, London

Founder of GMB Akash Institute of Photography, Dhaka

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gmbakash

Website: http://www.gmb-akash.com/home

Photography Workshop: http://www.gmbakashworkshop.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gmbakash/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmbakash/

Blog: https://gmbakash.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GmbAkash