Pulling a ferry rope on the Bhairab, disabled Joni carries his six-member family

Before dawn breaks, Joni Molla arrives at the ferry ghat on the Bhairab River in Bagerhat. Pulling the thick rope tied to the boat, he helps passengers cross from one bank to the other. He lives with physical and mental disabilities, but stopping is not an option for him.

Joni Molla, 35, is a resident of Kulia Dair village in Bishnupur Union of Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. His father, Moni Molla, earns a living by fishing.

For nearly eight years, Joni has worked pulling the ferry boat at the Kulia Dair ghat next to Jatrapur Bazar in Jatrapur Union of Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. He has had a close bond with the river and boats since childhood.

Around 600 to 700 people cross at this ghat every day. They include students, farmers, workers, traders and people of many other professions.

Joni's labour begins at 5 in the morning and ends at 11 at night. His days pass sometimes under scorching sun, sometimes soaked in rain, sometimes fighting the river current. At the end of the day he receives 400 taka in wages.

He keeps none of that money for himself, handing all of it to his father, because the six-member family's household runs on it. Even when he feels unwell, thoughts of the family force him to keep working.

Speaking of his struggle, Joni Molla said: 'I have operated boats since childhood. I have worked at this ghat for about seven or eight years. I have physical and mental problems. Still I work to run my family. If I do not work, my family of six will go hungry. I get 400 taka every day. I give all of it to my father. He runs the household with that money.'

The ghat's lessee, Md Masum Molla, said that besides the 400 taka in cash, Joni is given three meals a day and tea and snacks — benefits worth about 500 taka a day in total. Joni owns no land of his own, he added.

Local resident Amena Khanom said she has heard Joni cannot do any work other than pulling this ferry. If people extended some financial help to the poor, disabled young man, he could live a better life, she said.

Hasan Sheikh of Jatrapur Union has used this ghat for several years. He said he has long seen Joni operate the boat; the work clearly costs him great effort, yet the young man never gives up, labouring day and night to feed his family.

Locals say financial assistance or alternative employment for Joni would ease his hardship somewhat. Masum Molla said that if the government arranged a shop or something similar for him, or if the well-off in society helped a little, Joni could spend the rest of his life in comfort.