Whilst we were travelling through the remote northern villages of Bangladesh, unbeknow to us, the country was in the midst of political upheaval and by the time we reached the first town (Mymensingh) the situation had deteriorated. It was our intention to travel further north but we were stuck. No buses, no trains, no way out! Buses had been petrol bombed, trains had been derailed, the situation was worsening. After three days we found someone willing to risk the journey to Dhaka. We arrived safely but
the political unrest continued, there was a continuing hartal, a total shutdown. Farmers cannot get their crops and produce the market, schools and universities are disrupted. The garment trade, the lifeline of Bangladesh was severely damaged. For what, for power! The prime minister and the opposition leader (two women) fighting for power and refuse to back down meanwhile the Bangladeshi people suffer.
The photo is taken on the streets of Dhaka, just before we left police patrol the streets. The lighter and lime sellers show just how vulnerable the lives of these people are.