Living Stone
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Living Stone
by Khaled Hasan
The stone-crushing industry harms the environment, endangers the health of workers, creates sound and
air pollution, and shrinks the biodiversity of the region, amongst other things.
The Piyain River, which flows from India through Bangladesh, used to be the most striking asset of Jaflong.
During monsoons the river currents wash down precious rocks and pebbles. Today it is the hub of the
stone-crushing industry but the river is dying, losing its vitality and beauty.
Each morning thousands of workers of all ages walk down the dusty river bank, basket and spade in hand.
They dig, pull out the stones, and carry them on their heads to the hundreds of noisy stone-crushing
machines.
Use of modern machineries such as cranes have caused stones to become extinct in places around Piyain
River. So, the stone collectors now work harder; every night they travel upstream with their boats to collect
stones and dock it on the banks. Big stones are supplied to the stone crushing machines; smaller ones are
transported directly to cities.
For the last four years Probal Das, 67, and his wife Priti Rani Das, 39, have been working as day labourers.
They have two daughters. Two years ago each earned 400 taka ($ 5.79) daily, now they make only 150
taka ($ 2.17). Some days they get around 80 taka ($ 1.15).
During winter, the Piyain River becomes dry. Local business owners, known as Mahajan, grab the river
areas. Laborers dig the riverbed haphazardly disrupting the balance of the ecosystem.
This is one trade, which has a geological limit. The stones that tumble down the riverbed from India are
decreasing in volume, and the labourers are already taking the risk of invading the no-man's land along the
Indo-Bangla border. More than 5000 men, women and children are engaged as stone labourers here.
Rajiv Das, 42, is working at a stone-crushing machine. His job is to remove the byproducts such as stone
dust. He realizes that this work is hazardous, as one breathes the dust while working. Yet hundreds of
workers continue to migrate to Jaflong to be part of this industry.
With the expansion of the stone industry a parallel transport business is growing. Every day more than
1000 trucks drive out of Jaflong carrying loads of crushed stones to all parts of the country.
Babul, 32, Faruk, 35, Manik, 29, and Joinal, 31, are loading a truck with broken down stone chips. These
are transported to the city, to be used at multistoreyed construction sites. They are also used for building
roads and highways in different parts of Bangladesh.
The spades rust with time while the legs harden. The stones continue to get crushed and long after the
dust settles, their stories remain untold.
Kalam Ali, 26, has been part of the stone-crushing industry for 4 years. He knows there are many risks
involved in stone crushing. He covers his face using his Gamchha (local weaved cloth), in an attempt to
avoid breathing in dust particles.
Stone collector Abu Bakkar bathing at the bank of the Piyain River after nearly twelve hours of work.
The tea stalls dotted around Jaflong are the local hangout joints for the workers. Every evening the
labourers are seen sipping tea, smoking bidi (tobacco), and chatting.
The hills of Jaflong that were once green and lush now wear a dusty, brown shadow of industrial abuse.
A labourer steals a few moments of rest.
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When the river dries up during winter stone collection increases at a feverish speed.
Child labourers are a common feature of this industry. Some start working at the age of five.
The stone chips that this boy is collecting will fetch him 5 taka ($ 0.071) for each basket at the end of the
day.
Rajia Begum, 48, is a hard working stone labour. She is on her midday break, using the time to get some
rest before she starts again.
Shapna, 13, works as a stone collector. For more than five years she has tryed to support her family. Often
she mixes work with fun, she plays around with the other kids or rides her brother's boat.
Alya Begum, a day labourer and mother of two children, could not go to work because of illness. Missing a
day's work means no money to buy food and medicines. There is no sick leave in this industry.
There is no source of entertainment for the community. At the end of the days work, few of the workers
loiter around tea stalls and gets ready for next days work.
Shapna, 13, works as a stone collector. Often she mixes work with fun, she plays around with the other
kids or rides her brother's boat.
Women belonging to the minority Hindu community grind rice to make cakes for 'Paus Shankranti' festival
at the end of Bengali month "Paus". The Hindu labourers take the day off.