Posts by Kelsey

The textile industry in Bangladesh

Boys at Work

The entire time I’ve been thinking and planning this quest, I’ve only thought about the garment factories and not the production of the textiles from which they are sewn.

The city of Narsingdi is Bangladesh’s cloth capital. Rickshaws are heaped with colorful cloth and trucks carry so much that they won’t fit under power lines. I was welcomed with open arms, cookies, and tea to 3 separate plants. I could ask any questions I wanted and take any photograph, even if it was of underage kids working (Bangladesh requires a minimum age of 18). I explained my quest to each of the owners and they were more than happy to walk me through their factories.

They were all sweatshops, possibly in the…

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Bangladesh is shrinking

No Bengal tiger hunting for me. Due to a complete lack of tourists, my tight schedule, and my stubbornness to never, ever call ahead to try and arrange things, the Sundarbans are a “no go.” Instead I’ll be heading to Kuakata beach on the Bay of Bengal.

My main reason for going on this excursion south of Dhaka is to explore the delta region’s extreme susceptibility to sea-level rise. A few feet rise would displace millions. Bangladesh is the world’s most densely populated country. Any loss of land would be devastating.

I traveled to Khulna via an 80-year-old paddle boat. The farther south we got the more flooding we saw. Houses were islands, fields were ponds, and walking paths were bridges.

Flood

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Why I'm watching stupid movies

Parts of my head feel like they are going to implode and others explode. Must be that fresh Bangladesh air. I’m taking a sick day today, which means I’m trying to get some writing done, but actually watching movies like this…

Talking Head

Yes that’s a talking head on a plate. It speaks Thai, if you were wondering….

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How long can you tread water?

I’ve yet to get on a boat without someone asking me, “Can you swim?”

Today I’m heading from Dhaka to Khulna by steamer. The trip takes 27 hours so I’m going to be incommunicado for a bit.

And if you were wondering…yes I can swim, let’s just hope I don’t have to….

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A plead to the people of Bangladesh

It’s a 100-degrees Fahrenheit. Wear shorts!

In honor of the Bangladeshi “no shorts” fashion preference, I’ve been wearing pants every day. They’re hot and sticky and make me feel claustrophobic.

I may need counseling….

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A "friend" in Bangladesh

I hate to report it, but there will be no blond hair, blue-eyed Bangladeshi backup singer anytime soon. I’ve ended all dealings with the “friend” who had lined up this connection.

Why?

This text message:

This is Tuton. I am in great danger. I need to pay a party by this evening. I failed to go to bank. Still I need taka 15,000 or more. It is my request to you to give me the above by evening as loan. I must repay the amount by this week. I am in great danger. Help me pls. Pls let me know the result soon. Waiting for your reply. Tuton.

15,000 taka is about $200. Obviously, I want nothing to do with loaning money and especially being involved with anything labeled as GREAT DANGER.

I politely denied the request in an email to Tuton. You can read our correspondences below the cut.

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This ain't no vacation

Rickshaws

When I tell people that I’m going to be away for a few months they often respond with different variations of: “That must be nice.”

Let me clear up things a little…this ain’t no vacation. I’m not working on my tan. Fruity cocktails are the last thing on my mind.

Recently, the Travel and Tourism Competiveness Report 2007 listed Bangladesh as 4th from last of countries that cater to tourists. From the ground level this isn’t hard to see. The first day here I tried to get a room at Hotel Tourist, but Hotel Tourist does not accommodate tourists. Go figure.

While the people of Bangladesh are great, there is a complete lack of tourism infrastructure. If you want to go…

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Bibi Russell, Fashion for Development

Me and Bibi

If I were corny, I would write something like: “Bibi Russell is a supermodel and a super nice person.” Because it would be true.

But I’m not, so I won’t.

I searched out the Bibi Production office in Dhaka today with the hopes of talking to someone about their grassroots work with Bangladeshi craftspeople. I didn’t expect it would be Bibi herself.

I asked if I could schedule a time to talk, partly because I didn’t want to intrude and interrupt whatever she was working on, and partly because I really hadn’t outlined an interview.

“Now is a good time. The electricity is out.” Bibi said.

Bibi could probably be living anywhere in the world in some huge spread. She’s a model and…

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Not every day

It’s not every day that you are in Bangladesh.

It’s not every day you interview a supermodel.

Today, I did both.

More, later….

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