‘Many Miles Many Smiles’

You are loved! ❤

That is the note every child received. In five straight days I had reached more than 500 impoverished Bangladeshi children and gifted one goodie bag each that consisted of an item of new clothes, a pair of slippers and chocolate. Then together we headed for the group lunch. The children grinned from ear to ear, laughed and screamed in joy and burst out in happiness. All this happened due to a ‘three day campaign in my Facebook fan page’. I would like to thank every friend who has donated HAPPINESS to these children. Thanks for sharing your world with these children. During five days from morning to noon I had unforgettable moments with street children, child labourers and unprivileged rural children. My friends, in this video I am sharing a glimpse of that joyous experience which which many of you have created along me. I am welcoming you to have a look at what have you brought to these children!

Click in this Link to watch the video: Video of Many Miles Many Smiles

‘Is this mine?’ Salauddin uttered with surprise. ‘Are these all for us?’ with the same surprise, Ratan, Sojib and Yusuf asked. I nodded with a smile and before I could answer, Sojib run up and called out every child’s name they are living with. To my surprise within half an hour about a hundred of children encircled me with a thousand questions. I handed every child one goodie bag that consisted of a new pair of slippers, new clothes item and chocolate. Their sparkling eyes, bright smiles and warm words made the evening unforgettable. Among them a few were not smiling and seemed confused. I patted them on their backs and asked what happened and then questioned them if they weren’t happy with the new things. With hesitation they asked me if I could provide them with some food to eat as they had not eaten anything since yesterday. That moment I decided besides giving them one goodie bag I will also treat them in a good restaurant and make their day fulfilled. When I declared they can have their lunch in a restaurant their happiness exceeded its limit.

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There are hundreds of boys and girls who work as child labourers with their parents who work in the brick fields. While Munni was wearing her new given dress, she shared with me, ‘I hadn’t gotten any dress or shoes for last Eid. Today is my Eid day.’ While wearing their clothes and slippers they continued to laugh, showing their new things to each other and continued to giggle as they saw me waving and leaving them.

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The hardest part was to buy different clothes and slippers for different age groups. I would like to give special thanks to my students and companions Tutul, Disary and Proshanto for their generous time and effort. By this post I would like to thank each of you who have helped me with time, labour and generosity for this mission.

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The scenarios in the factories weren’t different. The child labourer formed a queue voluntarily and continued to surprise me by their gratefulness. I could not imagine a small goodie bag could give so much happiness. When they opened their gifts each of them smiled instantly. Even in the rural village where  our ‘First Light School’ has its junior students, those who belong to extremely poor families burst out in joy while receiving their gifts. All of them gathered, lined up and shouted ‘Thank you!’

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My friends, see what we have done together with a small three day campaign. Your generosity filled hundreds of innocent souls with the greatest gift of ‘Happiness’. Thank you! Thank you for showing them that there are people in the world who have a heart to love and give.

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Born to work – A Battle of a “Survivor”

“Survivors” depicts the invincibility of the human spirit to survive against all odds. People who live on the edges of society have had a big impact on me and have been a great inspiration to me as a person and in my career. The existing social hierarchies have made me realize that those who live at the lowest rank on the economic ladder are the true survivors. These people are deprived of even the basic necessities of life, yet they manage to live each day with a smile on their faces. As a photographer I feel it is my task to show the world those unseen realities and to shed light on what most of us never see with our own eyes.

I have been doing my project “Survivors” for the last 10 years. In these years I tried to bring changes in some lives. But now, I moves to work on it highly by bringing the project “Survivors” in light. & lend hands to some miserable souls. Munna is one of them. Here I am revealing life & straggle of Munna – which many of you may never seen but heard many times, which many of you may imagine but never feel. Welcome to the world of a – little soldier ‘Munna’

“Born to work – A Battle of a Survivor”, First video made by me & a documentation on ‘Munna’ from the project ‘Survivors’.

‘Integrity with innocence’ this is the concrete of Munna’s character portrayal. Five years ago I first met Munna, he was same like now. He was a seven years old shy boy who never complains to anyone. At the age of five he comes to the factory. Two years he did nothing & got no money. At the age of seven, he learns & starts working. When I took his first picture his hands remarks his experiences.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Five years have passed fates of Munna & his father brings no change in their lives. Only difference is, with his five years experience Munna is getting 1600 taka ($1=72taka) per month. Moreover 12 years old Munna is running his younger sister education with his extra income of Friday overtime. His dreams confine to get more experience of hard work & made a big factory. He dreams to give good food to his family, he dreams to take them in a better place. The boy speak too less, stand always like a shadow. Whenever I took picture of him, he tried to clean his torn cloths as well hide torn areas. These little doings, little words earn respect.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

20 years ago Munna’s family had come to Dhaka for better living. Time never brings any happiness in their lives. By a little donation Munna’s father bought shoe sewing materials & now he is working as cobbler. They pray that rainy season may never come. As people does not come to do shoe polish in rain time. Munna & his family are surviving in the race of life.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Like Munna around 7 million children are straggling in our country. May be it is difficult but not impossible to give hope to these 7 million children. If only every capable person lend their hands for one family.

My project “Survivors” aims to help Munna & his family. This project designed to help ten families from ten backgrounds. By little collection – a fund will hand over to Munna & his father. Munna’s father will utilize it for lifting their fates. 25% of the selling price of my book “Survivors” will give to these kinds of 10 selected families. You all are invited to stand beside Munna. Won’t you lend your hands? If your heart is moved to do so please visit “Survivors” by Gmb Akash at : http://emphas.is

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

“Stranger in a paradise”

“Oh! My friend! You are a stranger & welcome to our paradise”

This was the welcome note from my friend in Philippines.

I travel to meet with people, to introduce with them & to see all unseen. My second visit to Philippines brings me close to understand this paradise newly.

Joe (23yr) eyes are restless for keep watching guest’s cars of the restaurants. His job is to help in parking & watch on the cars. Car owners give him 2peso-10pesowhen they leave the restaurant. Katipunan. Philippines

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

When discovering one of the few secrets about people of Philippines, I discover myself newly. I found a place of joy; I found people of Philippines are so simple, lovely and charming.

Workers are busy for cleaning the sea side in Subic. Philippines © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

I found all restaurants filled with smiley faces. None of them were looking upset. Girls were entering alone into coffee shop late night and they were secure. I have seen charm of happiness everywhere. When you will pass by a gate the gatekeeper will smile at you by asking “Can I help you, sir?”

In a church of Katipunan people are preparing for taking part in prayers. Philippines © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

During a rainy day the old women was selling Jackfruit in Quipo. Philippines © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

In a busy street of Quipo a women selling fruits. Philippines © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

In slums people were straggling with smile in their faces. Many people were sleeping in the street.

In the mean time of a break these day laborer are taking nap. Quipo, Philippines, © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Five family members living in a 6 fit by 6 fit room, did not take out their smile from their faces.

A pizza deliver guy was taking rest after delivering pizza in a office of Katipunan, © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

An old man was setting idle & taking rest in the busy street of Quipo. Philippines, © GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

I started believing the place is really a paradise. It is a Man-made paradise. When people can learn to live lives with its all possible joys no one can defeat them.In time of return I whisper to myself “go as far as you can! Be a stranger in a strange land” Gmb Akash

“Untold Stories” Part II

Habitually I take my camera, leave my place and lost for long time. These unpredictable journeys never tire me. In searching of stories I traveled miles after miles, I reached many unexpected places by unplanned ways.

Location was India, a mountain near a coal mine. I was not even thinking another terrible accident was waiting for me.

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

My main focus was low-income people; I find out these poor people who were going back to the coal mine early in the morning. They went for stealing coal & later sell in local market. Next morning I followed them quietly. I experienced they carried these heavy basket full of coals  3 to 4 kilometers from mountain. They were bare foot most were children/female from poorest families.

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

When I reached to the top of the mountain I could not miss the chance to take photos of those workers, who were working in coal mine. One of my friend was just beside me and poked me to skip from there. Just after few minutes suddenly three men came in the place. Then hold me & my camera tightly, caught my friend as well.

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Those men were trying to throw me from the mountain, was scratching me to take the camera but I hold it tightly. I was literally scared but asked them to take me to their boss. They dragged me down, tore my shirt into two parts, hit my shoulders and kicked in my knee. They were dragging me to their boos which is around one & half kilometer. In the meantime of their kicks, I have changed my memory card of the images.

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

When I meet their angry boss, I managed to tell him that I am a tourist. My hobby is photography, I took picture as in Bangladesh there is no coal mine like this. He took out my cf card and threw to a drain. I said sorry to him, bribe some money and he let me free. I was so scared, their people followed me long. When I returned to the hotel I got sick for few days. But you can not blame a photographer’s blood. I go back again in my next tour and be careful to take pictures that time.

Jharkand, India. One of the largest coal mines in Asia.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

These images are stories of my own experiences. I am writing tours of my life. These journeys invite me in territories I never dream evem. Sometimes I run to save myself, sometimes I take ride in the top of the roof of the train, or I sleep in the flooded floor of village hut, I swim, I hang on, and above all I meet those souls. These adventures invites dangers. But after reaching to those people, getting permission to enter to their private door all my hard work and  risks become worthy.

“Untold Stories” Part I

My identity is my photography. From the crowd of photographers, I am one who determine to dedicate everything in photography. I could never think a day will come when photography will be only reason to live my life! In my surroundings & the place I brought up no one can ever thought a boy can devote him for photography. In my environs and in the space I was brought up in no one ever thought a boy can dedicate himself for photography. Throughout my childhood I did not have access to photographers, their work, or even a camera. Photography did not exist for me in theory or in practice. I held my father’s old camera and started taking pictures unconsciously in 1997. Since then I have not stopped clicking for a single day. Every day, in every angle, in every corner of my world I keep capturing those miserable souls and kept them in heart of my camera.

© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

“Bravery” is the most unexpected power of these children. They work 1 0hrs and more having no protection, no appreciation, no admiration but with a wide smile in their faces. In the resting time, when I took photos I asked them what they will become in future. They randomly said they want to be Doctor, engineer, pilot! I lost my words! They do not even know, the work they are doing will never take them in any of these designation they are dreaming for. One boy from them look at me and said, ‘I will be a photographer like you, will take picture when my boss beats my friend’. I use to close my eyes often in between the conversation.

© GMB Akash

When I was leaving the working place of children, I ask them what they want to eat. For them bread is the most delicious food. When I back from the place my soul left heavy. After I got Vevey International photography grants in 2010, with some money I bought new dresses and went to them. Happy faces of 65 children, their shouts, their joys, their hugs I even can feel now when I am writing. I could not resist tears for giving them these simple cloths and after receiving their unconditional love makes me so much small.

© GMB Akash

18 months old Khadeja was suffering from diarrhea in Rayer Bazar slum. Her parents kept her under the sun to ironically cure her. Her condition was bad & malnutrition made it worst. Her parents were no where found near to ask the explanation.

© GMB Akash

Women protect themselves from the rain at a tea plantation where they work near the village of Elkaduwa. Tea is one of the country’s main export crops. sri lanka, Matale District

“It was rainy season. Female workers of Srilanka were rushing to their work place. I was rushing with them. These ladies were bare foots, clothes were thin. I was wondering how whole day they will work. Suddenly I felt something beating near my knee. I ignored and keep clicking. When I could not bear any more I hurried back to my hotel. I found louse beating. It was bleeding, and  I got sick. When I was suffering from pain I recall those ladies who were bare foots & thus they works everyday!”

© GMB Akash

My friends started calling me “Hijra” Undoubtedly it was shocking for me but I didn’t stop working on trans-genders. It was way too distance to reach as nobody worked before me on this community. It took years to get entry to their door. I patiently keep trying. Mixed with them, talked to them, took gift for them. I tried to understand the basics of their lives. Their ways of life makes them strange characters and granted as alien in the society. Instead of getting warmth from the society, they receive hatred and contempt. Few among them were forced to leave school because of their classmates’ negative attitude towards their feminine behaviors. Their lack of education has so far deprived them of information and any scope of communication with trans-genders all over the world. So they confine themselves to their own small community. They engage themselves in merriment, singing, dancing and thereby hiding their struggles and worries in laughter. After several years of working, I go to the depth of their lives. People laugh at me, make fun of me. But when I meet with them their warmth of admiration give me the courage to depict them in my frame.

© GMB Akash

In district hospital Accham every day people come to get treatment for HIV. To reach in this remote hospital I have to travel several days. Even people who come for treatment walk two days or more. In those villages you can hardly find male member of the family. In every family some one died in this disease. They have no work there, so they go to India for long time. They bring HIV unconsciously when they come back. Even some ladies come to know that they are HIV positive after  of their husband’s death. Their painful stories of surviving could hardly reach to the top.

© GMB Akash

15 year old Masura Begum at the Fistula Treatment Centre in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Masura developed a fistula after an unsuccessful abortion operation was carried out after she was raped. Over 71,000 women live with fistula in Bangladesh, with the World Health Organisation estimating over 2.5 million cases worldwide. The UNFPA have trained 45 doctors and 30 nurses to treat the disability at the centre in Dhaka. Obstetric fistula, which can occur after days of obstructed labour, is both treatable and preventable, yet it carries with it a huge stigma, and can have devastating consequences, usually killing the baby and leaving the woman with chronic incontinence. Dhaka

© GMB Akash

Liza is an old sex worker in Tangail brothel. In early childhood her step mother sold her to the brothel. She forgot their name, faces & even where she born. She admire when some one took her photo. When I was taking her photo & listen to her story, this hard hearted lady broke out in tears. She lost her young age, clients hardly come to her. She has no one, without this brothel she has no place to go. Now she works as maid for other sex workers. She was crying in thought of why god punishes her this way. She lost her childhood, she never got love in her life now in old age she has to rotten in this brothel. That time first I thought of buying sewing machines for these kinds of old sex workers. At least they could find a self respect at the end of their lives!

© GMB Akash

 

“I am working on old home past many years. “Kontinente” a German magazine published my work on Nepal old home. That old home even did not have sources to give two times food to those old inhabitants. After knowing the fact many people come forward to help them. We raised sufficient fund through mother Teresa Home. When a mother said “I waits for you my child as just like I waits for my son” I feel little. We still keep working for all those great hearts”

“I am in an endless journey towards an infinite route, only to find a real world of humanity. This thirst is eternal. I will keep walking, touching every face I meet by my lens. I will show the world – those unknown stories of sufferings. If a single hand comes to give them a shade then that is the real honor of my sweat” – Gmb Akash

Born to work

“I see the beauty of people and the human soul in the pictures I take. And though the circumstances of some of the people I portray may be grim, back-breaking, depraved, the people themselves are always remarkable characters and souls” Gmb Akash

Child working in a silver cooking pot factory.© GMB Akash

17.5 percent of all children aged between 5-15 are engaged in economic activities. The average child labourer earns between 400 to 700 taka (1 USD = 70 taka) per month



Child working at a silver cooking pot factory. The child labourers earn about 200 taka ($1=70tk) per week and they work about 10 hours a day. Dhaka, Bangladesh.© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

  “He laughs, he run & his eyes sparks like any other kids we see around us. When they spend hours after hours under pressure to become one of capable member of their family, they start to diminish. Poor families have to send their child to face the cruel world by sending them in factories, streets instead of school. Little children start to know the world by sleeping in the street, breaking bricks or carrying sands”  Gmb Akash

© GMB Akash

Shilu works separating sand and stone. At least 10,000 people, including 2,500 women and over 1,000 children, are engaged in stone and sand collection from the Bhollar Ghat on the banks of the Piyain River. Building materials such as stone and sand, and the cement which is made from it, are in short supply in Bangladesh, and commands a high price from building contractors. The average income is around 150 taka (less than 2 USD) a day. Jaflong, Sylhet




Rahman (12) is beating by the owner of the textile factory. His job is sewing children t-shirt. In the mean time of work he was slow to deliver, that’s why he hit by the owner. He earns $1 by ten hrs of work in a day. Dhaka. Bangladesh

© GMB Akash

13 years old Fatema is getting older with the experience of carrying brick for construction sites. She has to take materials for construction firms & moves up to sixth floor with all those heavy materials all day long. She got 1500 tk per month for carrying countless buckets from morning to noon. Surprisingly, this 13 years girl represents herself way too older than her real age. Dual shade of her face, displaying the lost child in the reality of surviving. Dhaka. Bangladesh

© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

Tired Motalib (12) was taking rest in the sand field of Jaflong, Sylhet. Before sun shine he starts to collect stones in his basket. In sunset when the contractor counts stones & fix money in order, he gets some time to relax. He can take 35-40 tk when he leaves the field. While he looked into the camera his sweat & sand covered body defeated by his curious eyes & innocent smile.


© GMB Akash


Nine years old Shakil’s job is to make balloons. In the time of making these colorful toys, he himself mixes by those powder ingredients. His has done his works usually after the sunset. If any balloon is not fit to sell then the seller gives it to him. He keeps it for his young sister because he usually didn’t get any time to play. He gets 700 tk for a whole month of working, Dhaka.

© GMB Akash

© GMB Akash

“Their innocent smile can break your heart into enormous pieces if you stand in front of where they work [and] live.”

© GMB Akash

“I want to deliver their voices to all of you & their hidden pain & cries. If any of you spend one second in a thought to help or even a prayer for them is the reward of all hard work”  Gmb Akash


© GMB Akash

“All the time the heartless scenario, people sufferings & my inner emptiness had frozen my finger to click. But with all those sorrows in expression accompanied by smile when they give a look, they push me to overcome anything. & then my clicks never take a break”  Gmb Akash


© GMB Akash

These are the hands of Alamin, 11 years old brick field worker who starts work from 5am. Smoke & ashes covers Alamin’s whole body but works never cover a smile in his face. He carries brick from the field to kiln. He usually carries 4 bricks at a time top of his head. per brick is almost 2.5 kg in weight. For 1000 bricks the workers get 80 Tk. Alamin covered with smoke & ashes, at the same time he carries 400 bricks a day in cost of his fadedness. His family comes from Kishorgonj with their three children and all of them are selling their childhood costing per day nearly 80Tk.

© GMB Akash

“No one has the time to listen them, they are mostly unseen human. I tell their stories, depicts their emotions, steal their sorrows in my frame…if these stories ever touch your heart please feel free to share ….your sole help can even awaken people to bring their hands to these lost souls..” Gmb Akash