Once a familiar sight in rural life, hawkers were an essential part of village communities in Bangladesh—going door to door, selling daily essentials and small household goods. Although the practice has largely faded, a few hawkers in Cox’s Bazar continue to maintain this age-old trade. Among them is Siraj Mia.
Originally from Tangail, Siraj Mia has been working as a hawker in Cox’s Bazar for the past 12 years. His only source of livelihood is his two-wheeled bicycle, on which he arranges and sells a wide variety of inexpensive household goods.
His bicycle is stacked with colorful items: plastic mugs, food covers, spice containers, children’s toys, flutes, buckets, pen stands, small bowls, soap cases, storage boxes, fruit baskets, strainers, tiffin boxes, sieves, and even suji filters. These items, priced between Tk 20 and Tk 100, attract customers in villages where modern shops are not always readily accessible.
Every morning, Siraj Mia sets out with his goods and spends the entire day roaming villages across Cox’s Bazar. From his daily sales, he earns between Tk 500 and Tk 1,000—just enough to keep his household running.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
