Chapter One

1. Introduction:

The cities of Bangladesh have been experiencing overwhelming

population growth and extreme poverty. It is more acute in Dhaka

city. Actually this is in part, a result of rural poverty, which has led

to migration of poor people from rural to urban areas in search of a

better life, better job opportunities and better social services. Most

of these rural migrants are absorbed in to the urban informal sector.

Rickshaw pulling is one of the informal professions. At present,

about 360000 rickshaw pullers are living in Dhaka city in an

unhygienic environment. They are suffering from lack of all basic

human rights- food, clothing, shelter, health, education and

entertainment. Though the article 15(a), (b) and (c) of our

constitution promises for the provision of the basic needs right to

employment and the right to reasonable rest, recreation and leisure.

On the other hand, there are also many other people who belong to

a rich society, who live in the same city. They never have to face

any hurdle to get basic needs. They are enjoying various modern

opportunities to pass their leisure time.

The above preceding does not try to mean that rickshaw pullers

don’t have any entertainment opportunity; rather we can say that

each and every individual whether a rickshaw puller or a

businessman has an own way to pass his or her leisure time, which

may differ from person to person. But unfortunately we have never

thought that what could be the method of rickshaw pullers to

entertain themselves. The endeavor of this paper is to know by

what means the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city pass their leisure

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time and how they usually amuse themselves, according to their

own surrounding.

A Rickshaw is a two-wheeled or three-wheeled passenger vehicle.

Two-wheeled rickshaws are called pulled rickshaws and three-

wheeled rickshaws are called cycle rickshaws. People who pull

rickshaws are called rickshaw pullers. They carry the passenger to

their destinations.

A pulled rickshaw is a small vehicle with two wheels and a seat for

passengers, pulled along by somebody walking in front of it, used

especially in Asia. Runner-pulled rickshaws have been replaced

mainly by cycle rickshaws. The term rickshaw is today commonly

used for cycle rickshaws. (Encarta, 2005)

A cycle rickshaw is a small three-wheeled vehicle, with a seat at the

back for passengers that is driven by somebody sitting at the front

and pedaling. They are often used on a for hire basis. Cycle

rickshaws are widely used in major cities around the world, but most

commonly in cities of South, Southeast and East Asia. (Encarta,

2005)

Rickshaws (রি�কশা� riksha) are the most popular modes of transport

in Bangladesh and are available for hire throughout the country

including the capital city Dhaka, known as the "Rickshaw Capital of

the World". Rickshaws in Bangladesh are also more convenient than

the other public modes of transports in the country namely auto

rickshaws, cabs and buses. They are mostly convertible rickshaws

with folding hoods and are the only kind of vehicles that can be

driven in many neighborhoods of the city with narrow streets and

2

lanes. However, increasing traffic congestion and the resulting

collisions have led to the banning of rickshaws on many major

streets in the city. Urban employment in Bangladesh also largely

depends on cycle rickshaws. Because of inflation and

unemployment in the rural areas, people from villages crowd in the

cities to become rickshaw drivers locally called the riksha-

wala (রি�কশা�ওয়া�লা�). (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). As a mode of

transport rickshaw was first introduced in Japan in the early

twentieth century. This mode of transport became particularly

popular there due to the Second World War situation, which made

petrol and motorised transport scarce and expensive. Japan,

however, had soon replaced rickshaw, nintaku in Japanese, with

motorised vehicles and by the 1950s the cycle rickshaw had

disappeared from Japan.

In the 1930 and early '40s rickshaw became popular in Indonesia,

Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. Rickshaw is said to

have reached Chittagong from Myanmar in 1919. Interestingly,

rickshaw did not spread out to Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh

from Chittagong.

Dhaka got rickshaw from Calcutta, where it was first introduced

around 1930. European jute exporters living in Narayanganj and

Netrokona (in Mymensingh) had first imported cycle rickshaw from

Calcutta in 1938 for their personal use. The new vehicle roused

great curiosity among the people of Dhaka, who were traditionally

used to horse carriages, palanquins and city-canal boats. Initially

cycle rickshaw did not receive enthusiastic response from users.

The Dhaka city had only 37 rickshaws in 1941 and 181 rickshaws in

1947. Before 1947, Dhaka was a district town, which had a

3

population of 62,469 only according to 1951 census. But in 1998,

the city's population grew over 8 million and the number of

registered rickshaws in the city was 112,572. The number of

rickshaws in all other cities of Bangladesh in that year was 274,265

and in all villages 91,040.

It is a popular guess that the total number of rickshaws in the city is

at least two and a half times that of the registered ones and

accordingly, the city had at least 280,000 rickshaws in 2000. Today

approximately 400,000 cycle rickshaws run each day. (Banglapedia,

2006)

1.2 Statement of the problem:

‘Rickshaw’ the traditional Bangladeshi rides. The people who earn

their livelihood by pulling rickshaw are called the rickshaw pullers.

Usually they are poor people, we all know how miserable life

rickshaw pullers lead. The maximum numbers of rickshaw plays on

the roads and streets of Dhaka city. Therefore, this city is known to

us as the ‘city of rickshaw’. Sometimes, we may notice rickshaw

pullers spend their spare time in chatting or sleeping or eating

cheap bread, banana or by watching cinema. It can make a question

in our mind that what is their entertainment behavior. So we can

create a new space to research on their entertainment. The focus of

this study is to find out what do rickshaw pullers do at their leisure

time.

1.3 Brief review of literature:

In this study several national and international literatures have been

reviewed. While reviewing literature, literature was selected very

4

consciously. Among reviewed literatures, some major findings which

seemed relevant to the research topic are given below:

According to Begum and Sen (2004), the rickshaws pullers have

come from vary poor origins in terms of household human aspects

and physical capital assets. I both these respects, rickshaw pullers

belong to one of the most deprived social categories.

The SEARO Technical Publication and WHO (1984) identified in a

study that in Bangladesh 86% rickshaw pullers enjoy their idle time

by smoking.

Deepak Saxena in his research report on ‘’Rickshaw pullers,

unorganized transport sector of Jaipur, for enhancing quality of life

of rickshaw pullers’’ mentioned that-

‘’About 70% rickshaw pullers spend their spare time in chatting, the

next most (about 21%) indulged in spare time actively was sleeping,

about 5% claimed that there was no spare time, other 1% each

were involved in praying, drinking, roaming around. And 1

respondent replied that he studies during spare time.’’

Many researchers have been conducted regarding the rickshaw

puller’s life style including their migration from rural to urban area,

their formal-informal income, health state etc. But there is no single

research conducted regarding entertainment behaviour of rickshaw

pullers of Dhaka city. Thus it is the study which is going to add

something new extra information in research world.

1.4 Objective of the research:

The prime objective of the research is to find out how do rickshaw

pullers of Dhaka city spend their leisure time.

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1.5 Research questions:

1) What does the rickshaw puller do at his leisure time?

2) Does it cost money? If it does, what amount?

3) How much leisure time he usually gets to spend?

Chapter two

2. Socio economic profile of Rickshaw pullers:

In general, the rickshaw pullers have come from very poor origins

both in terms of house human capital assets and physical capital

assets. In both these respects, rickshaw pullers belong to one of the

most deprived social categories. They are mostly uneducated

(58%semi-educated, having never completed primary level

education (17%) the remaining 25%, only 2.5% reported to have

passed the SSC level; all others either completed primary school but

did not continue (9%) or did not complete secondary education

(13%). (Begum Sharifa and Sen Binayak, 2004: P. 8)

2.1 Where do they come from?

Rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city come from an underprivileged socio-

economic background consistent with the characteristics of chronic

poverty. Most of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city migrate from

different areas of the country. Very few rickshaw pullers are

permanent residents of Dhaka. Almost half of the interviewees

(47%) have come from different districts of north Bengal. They

generally come from Bogra, Sirajganj, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat.

28% of the respondents have come from different districts of Dhaka

division for example Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Faridpur, Madaripur,

6

Tangail and Shariatpur. 2 respondents of Dhaka division were

permanent residents of Dhaka city. The next largest contributors

are Barisal and Khulna division from which 16% rickshaw pullers

have come. Unemployed poor people of Barisal, Jhalkathi and

Patuakhali districts of Barisal division and Magura, Satkhira and

Bagerhat districts of Khulna division come to Dhaka in search of

work and they get involved in rickshaw pulling. Around 7% of our

interviewed rickshaw pullers have come from Sylhet region for

example Sunamganj, Habiganj and Kishoreganj districts. Only 2% of

the respondents have come from Feni and Noakhali, i.e. districts of

Chittagong division. Therefore, districts which have extensive

severe poverty, depressed areas, river erosion, charlands, and

underprivileged areas with limited work opportunities outweigh in

the sample of rickshaw pullers. Thus, rickshaw pullers come mostly

from the country’s poverty striven areas.

The majority of the rickshaw pullers of the Dhaka City come from

village. According to one study conducted by Sharifa Begum and

Binayak Sen–

‘’More than 90% of the rickshaw pullers have come to the city

straight from the village. Only 2% have come from another location

in their home upazila, 3.5% from district towns and 4% from other

metropolitan cities, including 1% who has always lived in Dhaka.

Substantial numbers of long-duration rickshaw pullers have been

living in Dhaka City for long periods, while recent rickshaw pullers

tend to be recent migrants to the city, and are likely to have made

this move in search of a better livelihood. The average duration of

living in Dhaka City by the rickshaw pullers is 11 years – 22% have

lived in Dhaka for fewer than 5 years, 41% for 5-9 years, 19% for

10-19 years, and 18% for more than 20 years. Among recent joiners

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to the occupation (i.e. worked as rickshaw puller for fewer than 5

years), the majority have come to the city only recently (87%

migrated to the city during the last five years and 98% arrived over

the past 10 years). Among those pulling rickshaws for 5-14 years,

two-thirds arrived in the city between 5 to 10 years ago, and

another 22% migrated between 10 to 20 years ago. In contrast,

more than 60% of those pursuing the occupation for more than 15

years migrated to Dhaka before 20 years ago.’’ (Begum Sharifa and

Sen Binayak, 2004: P. 8)

2.3 Religious background:

Most of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city are Muslims. Out of our

total 100 respondents, 99% were Muslims and only 1% belonged to

the Hindu community. There was no rickshaw puller in our research

belonging to other communities such as Christians and Buddhists.

2.4 Age level:

The majority of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city are young. Out of

our total respondents 75% were between the age group of 20-40

years. 20% belonged to the age group of 40-50 years. Only 5%

rickshaw pullers were between the age level of 15-20 years. The

average age was 31 years, the minimum age was 15 years and the

maximum age is 50 years.

2.5 Marital status:

Most of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city are married. All the adult

rickshaw pullers of our research were married (95%). The rickshaw

pullers who were below the age level of 20 were unmarried (5%).

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2.6 Educational status:

The rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city are mostly illiterate. Maximum of

them do not have any academic qualification. Two thirds of our

respondents were uneducated. Others were primary school

dropouts.

2.2 How they get involved in rickshaw pulling

profession:

The migrant rickshaw pullers come to Dhaka and get involved in

rickshaw pulling with the help of their relatives or friends who are

already involved in rickshaw pulling. The permanent residents

generally pull rickshaw as most of their family profession is rickshaw

pulling.

2.7 Living condition:

Most of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city live in hardships. They

mainly live in slum areas. Majority of the rickshaw pullers in Dhaka

city live in neighborhoods for example Kamrangir char, Modhu Bagh

mohalla of Moghbazar, slum areas of Jurain and Rayer bazaar, Pike

para, Sen para mohalla of Mirpur, Hazaribagh, Goran, slum areas of

Madartek. People living in these areas have poor socio-economic

condition with little income and low purchasing capability and

therefore the rickshaw pullers tend to live in these areas because

the living costs of these areas are comparatively low from other

area of Dhaka city.

Most of the rickshaw pullers do not own a house in Dhaka. They

mainly live in rent-free accommodations such as rickshaw garages.

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Such kinds of accommodations are generally provided by the

rickshaw owners. 21% of the rickshaw pullers live in some sort of

rent-free garages. Majority of the rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city live

in a rented mess. Others live with their family. At maximum cases

the houses are very congested and there have no well drainage

system, Toilets are not hygienic. And the environment of their living

places is not clean and tip top. On an average 10-12 people stay in

one room. The rickshaw pullers who live with their family generally

live in one-room house. Some of them live in joint family and the

others in nuclear families. More or less 4-5 people live in that one

room. Sometimes the pullers are the only earning member of the

family. They take all the responsibility for their family. But most of

the married rickshaw pullers living with family have economically

active wives. Most of them work in garment factories or work as

maid servants. The number of children of married rickshaw pullers

varies from 3 to 5. Most of them have school going children. Their

educational status is better than their fathers.

2.8 Housing and consumer durables:

The quality of rickshaw pullers’ houses is very poor. Although the

roof material is corrugated tin in 95% of the cases, the wall material

is generally of very low quality. Almost all of the households of the

rickshaw pullers who live in Dhaka with family enjoy access to some

urban amenities: 90% have electricity, 52% have gas facilities, 62%

have access to tap water, 78% enjoy bathroom facilities, 99% have

latrine provision, and 61% have a separate kitchen. Most of the

facilities, are accessed, however, on a shared basis and are rated as

highly inadequate, especially water, sanitation, and kitchen

facilities. In terms of consumer durables, about 14% of the rickshaw

10

pullers’ houses have an almirah; 36-46% has a table, chair, watch or

clock; 87% have bed/cot/chowki; 23% have a working radio; and

15% have a working television. (Begum Sharifa and Sen Binayak,

2004: P. 8)

2.9 What kind of food they eat:

The rickshaw pullers who live in a rented accommodation or in a

garage have their meal at the garage or mess. Who live in a family

can have their meal with their family. Many of them have their meal

at road side cheap restaurants and floating restaurants over

footpaths. Generally rickshaw pullers eat rice, vegetables and dal at

breakfast. Some of them eat bread, biscuit and banana. At lunch

and supper most of them eat rice, low priced fish like tilapia, pangas

and ruhit, vegetables and dal. They also have snacks like bread,

biscuit, shingara and banana in their free time during working hours

2.10 Their Health condition:

The health condition of rickshaw pullers is not satisfactory. They live

in unhygienic environment and thus they suffer from various health

problems. They do not get enough nutrition from the food they

usually eat, thus they undergo many diseases. Generally the

rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city suffer from fever/cold, skin diseases,

Diarrhoea/ dysentery, physical weakness, low blood pressure, gastro

enteric problems including acidity and ulcers and aches/pains. They

depend on government hospitals and local private allopathic

practitioners for their treatment. Most of the cases for minor illness

they ask for medicine to the shopkeepers of local pharmacy.

2.11 Working condition:

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Typically, rickshaw pullers hire their rickshaws from the owner-

contractors on a daily basis by paying fixed, predetermined charges.

A limited number of rickshaw pullers own a rickshaw themselves.

Longer duration pullers are more likely to own their own rickshaw.

However, large majority of the rickshaw puller who have been

pulling rickshaw for more than 15 years still rent a rickshaw.

2.12 Time spent rickshaw pulling:

Most of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city pursue the occupation all

through the year. Some of the respondents told that they come to

Dhaka for rickshaw pulling in agriculturally slack seasons and go

back to their native village in agriculturally busy seasons and in

religious festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.

Sharifa Begum and Binayak Sen in their research report

‘’Unsustainable Livelihoods, Health Shocks and Urban Chronic

Poverty: Rickshaw Pullers as a Case Study’’ stated that-

‘’60% of the sample rickshaw pullers work every day of the week;

28% take one day off in a week and fewer than 10% take more than

one day off from rickshaw pulling during a week.’’ (Begum Sharifa

and Sen Binayak, 2004: P. 12)

The average time for pulling rickshaw is 9 hours. Among our total

number of respondents 45% said that they pull rickshaw 10-15

hours a day. 14% rickshaw pullers work for 1-5 hours a day. 47%

pullers pull 5-10 hours a day.

2.13 Income from rickshaw pulling

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From our observation we found that 80% of the rickshaw pullers

earn taka 200-400 per day. Their Average daily income is 320 Tk.

and monthly income is 9600 Tk.

According to one JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

study-

A hard working rickshaw puller in the capital earns up to Tk14, 000

a month --- eight times the basic minimum wages of a garment

worker.

Some 35 per cent of Dhaka's half a million rickshaw-puller earn

between Tk 5000 and Tk7000 while 25 percent earn between Tk.

7000 and Tk. 9000. On average a rickshaw-puller earns Tk 6300 a

month by driving rickshaws six to eight hours a day. Even an

irregular rickshaw-puller can earn Tk3000 a month.

The highest earnings by some rickshaw pullers were found to be Tk

14,000 a month. Some eight per cent of the rickshaw pullers said

that their monthly income was Tk10, 000 or more," he said.

(Sultana, M., 2009. Rickshaw puller in Dhaka earns Tk 6,300 per

month: JICA study. The Financial Express, [online] 21 December.

Available at: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?

news_id=87400 [Accessed 28 January 2012])

The rickshaw pullers who hire rickshaw from owner/contractors have

to pay 40-60 taka for half day basis (6-8 hours), those who work 10-

12 hours or more than 12 hours, they have to pay 70-100 taka.

2.14 Reasons for entering in rickshaw pulling

sector

Why do rural migrants accept rickshaw pulling as an occupation,

despite its arduous nature? While a variety of reasons influence this

13

choice, the most common ones, cited by 83% of the sample

rickshaw pullers, is ‘easy entry’ especially for men who are illiterate,

unskilled and lack in capital. Other reasons given include that

rickshaw pulling provides a regular flow of income, possibly not

found in previous occupations, and that there is a ‘promise of higher

income’. For more recent entrants into rickshaw pulling, reasons

such as ‘to earn more money’, ‘non-availability of suitable jobs’, and

‘peer influence’ played a relatively larger role in decision-making,

while ‘regular flow of income’ and ‘easy availability of the job’ were

most important considerations for longer duration pullers. (Begum

Sharifa and Sen Binayak, 2004: P. 13-14)

Chapter three

Theoretical Framework

3. Theoretical framework:

A theory is a set of established knowledge that has been repeatedly

tested to explain or predict facts or phenomena. The theory

provides a conceptual framework and its guide’s action. In this

section we have to put an attempt to discuss “Entertainment

theory” and “Culture theory” and a theoretical framework has been

prepared based on these theories to make the study more

authenticated and focused.

There is no doubt that entertainment plays a prominent role in our

lives. Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a

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diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure

time. It may also provide fun, enjoyment and laughter (Wikipedia,

the free encyclopedia).

According to professor Shay Sayre and Cindy King, “Entertainment

covers the whole array of what can be entertaining: Books, drama,

music circus, television, gaming, gambling, sports, advertising,

tourism, edutainment” (Cited in ‘Entertainment & Sociology’ 2002).

Wolf (1999) claimed, “Entertainment-not autos, not steel, not

financial services-is fast becoming the driving wheel of the new

world economy”. And with respect to our preferred leisure-time

activities, researchers not only agree that entertainment is what

most people are looking for (Zillman & Vorderer, 2000), some even

predict that “entertainment will define, more than ever before, the

civilization to come” (Zillman, 2000, p. 18).

Moreover, we are going to mention ‘Culture theory’ because there is

a liaison between culture and entertainment; hence culture is

border than entertainment concept and it is a part of culture.

According to Bierstadt (1974) “Culture is the complex whole that

consists of all the ways we think and do and everything we have as

a member of the society”.

Culture can influence the mode of entertainment of a particular

group or society. In this aspect, we can include ‘sub-culture’ concept

of the discipline of sociology which implies every social group must

have a culture of its own-its own goals, norms, values, and ways of

doing thing. Under the light of this theory we can emphasize that

entertainment behavior of rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city could be

15

influenced by the occupational sub-culture and what may differ to

somewhat extent from other occupations.

Methodology:

We would like to use “semi-structured interview” method for data

collection which consist of some predetermined questions,

techniques of recording and some unstructured but relevant

questions also. The rational of using this method is that many types

of information and even data can be procured by face-to face

contacts with people, especially when data related to personal

option, attitudes.

Another reason to use this verbal technique in our study is that the

data source is primary nature and this systematic method will help

us to enter deeply into the life of rickshaw pullers and to bring out

needed information and data for research purpose.

Chapter four

Data Analysis and Findings

4. Data Findings:

After interviewing 100 rickshaw pullers we have identified 10

sources of entertainment by which the rickshaw pullers amuse

themselves. We also recognized the amount of time spent in their

leisure activities and cost for entertainment. The collected data are

given below:

Sources of entertainment:

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Name of entertainment Percentage

Watching television 59%

Smoking 40%

Sleeping 38%

Gossiping 37%

Listening song 35%

Time passing with family 21%

Wandering/ roaming around 18%

Playing 13%

Taking drug 6%

Watching movie in cinema hall 5%

Amount of time

Name of entertainment Percentage

Watching television 2 hours 11 minutes

Smoking 20 minutes

Sleeping 1 hour 36 minute

Gossiping 1 hour 26 minutes

Listening songs 44 minute 57 seconds

Time passing with family 2 hours 15 minutes

Wandering/ roaming around 2 hours 30 minutes

Playing 1 hour

Taking drug 45 minutes

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Watching movie in cinema hall 4 hours

Cost of entertainment

Range of cost (taka) Percentage of respondents

20-40 53%

40-60 28%

60-80 15%

80-100 4%

4.2 Data analysis:

4.2.1 Watching Television

From our observation it was revealed that watching television is the

main source of entertainment of rickshaw pullers. Out of our 100

respondents 59 respondents told that they watch TV during their

free time and leisure time. 4 respondents told that they watch TV in

free time during their working hours. Others said that they watch TV

during their leisure time usually at night. The pullers who work half

day basis watch TV in the morning or at noon. From our analysis it

was found that rickshaw pullers watch TV at tea stalls in their free

time during working hours and at their garage, mess or slum house

during leisure time. In most of the cases the rickshaw pullers usually

18

watch TV for 2 hours. They watch for 15-20 minutes in free times

during working hours.

They usually do not have to pay for dish cable connection. The

pullers who live in a garage or mess enjoy free cable connection

service. But those who live with family in a slum house have to pay

200-250 taka per month for connection charge. 4 out of 59 TV

watcher respondents who live with their family pay for dish line

cable connection. Others pullers told that their watch TV free of

charge. One respondent informed that the owner of the mess keep

the TV facility to attract more tenants. According to him the pullers

tend to live in the mess where there is a TV set for the tenants.

When they were asked, ‘what kind of programs do you like to

watch?’ almost all of the TV watcher respondents replied that they

like to watch movies on TV. Form our observation it was found that

the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city like to watch movies of popular

movie actors such as Shakib khan, Manna and Kaji Maruf, Shabnoor

and Apu Biswas of Bangladesh. The respondents mentioned the

names of two Kolkata based actors Jeet Ganguly and Mithun

chakraborty whom they do like because of their action stunts. The

respondents also mentioned that they watch news and drama

serials on different Bangladeshi TV channels. 3 respondents told

that they watch football and cricket matches on TV. 1 of the

respondents said that he likes to watch Discovery channel. 1 of

them watches Islamic channels. The rickshaw pullers watch movies

and on ATN Bangla.

Watching television is most common home entertainment source in

modern world. 87% of urban dwellers in Bangladesh watch TV. The

viewership rate in Dhaka city is 72%. The increasing number of

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private television channels in recent years and easy access to cable

connection made it possible for commoners like rickshaw pullers to

enjoy different TV programs in their leisure time. At present there

are total 23 TV stations in Bangladesh. Thus easy access to

television is one of the main reasons of choosing as a source of

entertainment for rickshaw pullers.

Rickshaw pullers go for this entertainment source because it has no

cost or has nominal cost. They even do not have to buy a television

because this facility is provided by the garage owner or the mess

owner. After p utting in a hard day at work of 10-12 hours most of

them becomes tired and exhausted. When they return home they

can easily watch TV while taking rest. Rickshaw pullers mostly live

in a mess or in garage. Most of their families live in village. So

watching TV is best option for entertainment for rickshaw pullers.

The choice of programs of rickshaw pullers signifies their poor

social, cultural and educational background. Therefore, the rickshaw

pullers do not tend to watch talk shows, Hindi TV serials or English

movie channels. They like to watch the TV programs and movies

which are easy to understand and contain cheap dialogues.

Though in true sense we can not categorize smoking as an

entertainment. It is actually a habit. But our study revealed that

smoking is a major leisure activity of rickshaw pullers. Out of our

100 respondents 46% told that they smoke during free times and

leisure times. A smoker rickshaw puller smokes 10-12 cigarettes per

day by and large. It takes 2 - 2.30 minutes to smoke a cigarette. In

that case a smoker rickshaw puller spends 20-25 minutes for

smoking every day. The average age of smoker rickshaw pullers is

31 years. Rickshaw pullers smoke inexpensive cigarettes. Navy,

20

Sheikh, Meri, K2 are some of the brands of cigarettes which the

respondents usually like. The names of brands, price per piece and

price per packet are given in the following table:

Name of brand Price per piece (Tk.) Price per packet (Tk)

Navy 3

Sheikh 1 10

Meri

K2 2

From our observation it was found that rickshaw pullers usually buy

2-3 pieces of cigarettes at a time because they get 1 Tk discount

which cost effective for them. For example the price of 3 pieces of

Sheikh Cigarette is 2 Tk and the price of 2 pieces of Navy cigarette

is 5 Tk. Only one respondent said that he smoke Gold Leaf cigarette

and Gold Leaf cigarette and do not inhale a whole cigarette at a

time but in parts due to his economic crisis.

Why the rickshaw pullers smoke? To be obvious, not just rickshaw

pullers, but also almost all of us smoke. It necessarily does not have

to mean that, availability and affordability of cigarettes is the only

reason of this entertainment but the basic cause is universal. It is

believed that smoking is the most effective and quick way of getting

relief from tension, letting go of worries. Whether or not, the huff of

nicotine absorbs the tensions and worries, and with the puff of its

gaseous state through nose and mouth, takes those outside, people

of all walks of life, seem to have a strong trust in that! 

smoking relieves pressure and who in the world can be in more

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pressure than a person who lives hand to mouth, has no assurance

of getting a rickshaw lease the next day, doesn’t know what

accident awaits this fate the next moment in the crowded city and

amongst the big bulky transport, and has yet thousand of worries at

the back of his head, regarding, taking food home for poor parents,

wife and children, paying for education of children or medicine of

old folks.

Another major source of entertainment among the rickshaw pullers

of Dhaka city is sleeping. 38% of the total 100 respondents said that

they sleep during their leisure time. A rickshaw puller sleeps for

1.30-2.00 hours a day during leisure period. The average age of

rickshaw pullers who sleep during leisure is 28 years.

Rickshaw pullers also sleep during their free time. Sometimes it is

seen that they sleep at their rickshaw during working hours. Many

rickshaw pullers who work more than 8 hours go home during lunch

period and sleep for 1-2 hours to gain energy which will help him to

work rest of the day. The rickshaw pullers who work less than 8

hours or half day can sleep more. The rickshaw pullers who pull

rickshaw for half day can sleep in the morning. They get more time

for sleeping. One of our respondents mentioned that he sleeps for

11 o’clock in the morning. Another rickshaw puller told that

whenever he stays at home he sleeps. From our observation we

found that rickshaw pullers usually sleep during their off day. Most

of them take off day on Friday. On this day they stay at home and

sleep. One of the respondents told that he does not like to watch TV

so he sleeps during leisure time.

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We can not actually categorize sleeping as a source of

entertainment. But from our research it was found that most of the

rickshaw pullers consider sleeping as an entertainment because

they get very little time for sleeping. They can not think of an extra

half an hour in bed in the morning or a mid-afternoon nap. They will

earn less if they sleep more. Therefore they prefer sleeping during

their off day.

A rickshaw puller has to spend money for other sources of

entertainment like watching movies in cinema hall, taking drugs,

smoking, having snacks during gossiping, roving around on off days

but sleeping is an entertainment for rickshaw pullers which has

actually no cost. So the rickshaw pullers like to sleep. Another

reason of sleeping is that lack of availability of other source of

entertainment for example, Absence of TV set at their living place.

Though sleeping is a favourite leisure activity of the rickshaw pullers

can not sleep with comfort because of poor condition of their living

place. The pullers who live in mess or garage have to sleep in a

congested place. He has to share his sleeping place with other

boarders. During summer it becomes very hard to sleep because of

hot weather and load shedding.

From our research it was found that gossiping or chatter is a source

of entertainment of the rickshaw pullers of Dhaka city. 37% of our

total respondents said that they gossip in their leisure time. The

pullers who like to gossip usually gossip for 1.20-1.30 hours a day.

The average age of rickshaw pullers who pass their leisure time in

gossiping is 31 years. Gossiping costs little mount of money. The

rickshaw pullers who gossip spend 20-30 Tk. only. When they gossip

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with their friends and coworkers at a tea stall they like to have light

refreshment like biscuit, tea and bread.

The respondents gossip during their free time also. They take a

break at a tea stall or food carts and gossip with their counterparts.

Most of them gossip in their mess and garage. After returning to

their living place they talk with their mess members. From their

interviews it was found most often they discuss about their well and

woes, family matters, professional conversations like amount of

income which they have earned on that particular day. They also

tend to discuss which they face during rickshaw pulling and other

technical problems with the rickshaw for example old rickshaw

chain, any traffic police have caused the tire to be punctured etc.

Only 1 respondent told that he discusses about political condition of

the country. The tendency of gossiping is more present among the

young rickshaw pullers because most of them live in a mess or

garage where most of their fellow mess members are same age. It

also signifies that they have friendly relationship with their room

members and counterparts. The rickshaw pullers who do not have a

cell phone gossip much because they can not talk with their kith

and kin. So they share their feelings with their friends, coworkers

and room mates. It helps them to reduce their mental stress.

From our study we observed that listening songs is a major source

of recreation among the rickshaw pullers. Out of 100 respondents

35% said that they listen to songs during their spare time. Some

respondents said that they listen to songs in their free time.

Average time of listening songs is 45 minutes. Average age of

rickshaw pullers who like to listen to songs is 27 years.

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Music is used as a tool for relaxation and stress relief. Folk, country

music, modern Bengali; spiritual are the song genres which the

rickshaw pullers usually like. The respondents also told that they

like to listen to sad songs. The music lover respondents mentioned

the names of the singers that they like for instance- Monir khan, Asif

Akbor, Bari Siddiqi, Momtaj, Sabina Yasmin, Nargis, Shanto. 2

respondents like Indian playback singer Sonu Nigum. Most of these

artists do modern Bengali songs and folk songs. All these singers

are more popular in rural areas and their songs are more popular

among the lower class people. Most of them basically do emotional

sad songs and romantic songs. The music and lyrics of their songs

are plain and simple which is easy to understand for the rickshaw

pullers. Another reason of fondness of sad songs is that the

rickshaw pullers stay without their family. They go to their native

village often. Without their family they feel lonely and sad. Listening

to sad songs perfectly match with their feelings. Listening to music

soothes their soul. It make them think that they are not alone who is

sad and lonely which makes them feel good and keep them out of

stress.

The rickshaw pullers usually listen to songs in cell phones. Some of

them watch music videos in DVD player in their mess. Most of the

rickshaw pullers who listen to music use different Chinese

multimedia mobile phones for example Symphony, Sprint, Smart,

Samsung, Maximus which are inexpensive and have the facility of

music player and FM radio. The price of ‘Symphony A70’ mobile

phone is only 1940 Tk and it has MP3 player and FM radio options.

These low priced mobile phones are available everywhere in the

country. Thus the rickshaw pullers can easily afford such kind of

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phones and enjoy music during their leisure time. The rickshaw

pullers do not buy CDs or DVDs to insert songs in the mobile

phones. From the interviews of several respondents we found that

they usually load songs in the memory card of their phone from

local shops of cassettes and CDs. It costs them 40-60 Tk to load

200-300 songs.

21% respondents answered that they spend their spare time with

their family members at home. They usually spend 2.30 hours with

their family. The average age of rickshaw pullers who pass time with

their family during leisure time is 37 years. The rickshaw pullers

usually do not have to cost money for passing time with their family.

From our observation it was found that the married rickshaw pullers

who live in a nuclear family or joint family and have little children

like to pass their leisure time with their family. 1 of the rickshaw

puller told that he helps his wife in household duties. 1 of them said

that when he stays at home in leisure time he helps his wife in

making cloth dolls which she sells in local market. One of the

respondents stays at home on Saturday and arranges good quality

food for family. The aged rickshaw pullers like to spend some of

their leisure time with their grandchildren. 1 of our respondents told

that he likes to play with his grand daughter. 1 respondent

mentioned that sometimes him go to the national memorial with his

wife. Spending time with family indicates that the rickshaw pullers

who live in Dhaka city with their family have a good family life.

Though they are poor and oppressed with many socio-economic

problems but their families are not dysfunctional.

Wandering/roving is a source of entertainment for the rickshaw

pullers. 18% of our total number of respondents said that they roam

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around during their leisure time. Usually rickshaw pullers spend

2.30 hours in wandering. The average age of rickshaw pullers who

like to wander is 28 years. The rickshaw pullers also spend their

time in wandering during their free time.

From our observation it was revealed that rickshaw pullers wander

during their off days. They usually wander in afternoon and in

evening with their friends and children. Some pullers like to rove

alone. One of the respondents told that he wanders with his friends

on Fridays because he does not pull rickshaw on Fridays. The

rickshaw pullers usually walk around their locality during their

leisure time. Most of them like to go for a walk at nearby bridges.

One respondent who lives in Gendaria said that he goes to

Kodomtoli Bridge in evening. Some of the aged respondents tend to

roam with their grandchildren. 1 respondent told that he goes to

park occasionally and goes there alone. He also mentioned that he

does not go to park with his wife because the environment of the

parks is not safe enough. 1 respondent goes to park during free

time. None of the respondents visit zoos or museums during off

days. They rather prefer sleeping on off days. Only 1 respondent

told that he visited the national zoo in Mirpur when he at first came

to Dhaka 6 years ago.

Wandering cost the rickshaw pullers little amount of money.

Sometimes they take some snakes like peanuts, biscuits and drink

tea which cost them 20-40 Tk.

Playing

Rickshaw pullers entertain themselves by playing various types of

indoor and outdoor games. 13% of 100 respondents told that they

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use to play during their free time. They usually play for 1 hour. The

average age of rickshaw pullers who love to play is 27 years.

Most of them play board games like carrom, chess and ludo. 3

respondents told that they play cricket during their off days. One of

them responded that he plays cricket on Friday. 3 respondents like

to play carrom. 3 of them play ludo. 2 respondents like football. 1

respondent plays card game. 1 respondent told that he plays games

in his cell phone. Though the rickshaw pullers like outdoor games

like cricket and football but they do not get much time. Some

respondents also play for money. For example, 1 respondent told

that he plays carrom and if he wins he gets 12 Tk. He has to pay 12

Tk. if he loses. 1 of the respondents told that he does not play but

he likes to watch when his other mess members use to play. The

pullers who are 27 years of age like to play indoor games because

most of them live in a garage and mess where they can play with

their room mates. Playing is fun. The rickshaw pullers get pleasure

when they play different games.

Not all recreational activities of the rickshaw pullers can be

considered healthy, socially acceptable or useful. Out of 100

respondents 6% are addicted to drugs. They take drugs for 45

minutes. The average age of rickshaw pullers who are drug addicted

is 25 years.

The respondents usually take drugs in their locality, parks, and

footpaths. They usually take weed, marijuana, heroin and fencidil.

Some of them also drink alcohol. They collect drugs from local drug

dealers. They buy 1 packet of marijuana for 20-30 Tk. Their

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unhealthy living condition is responsible for their addiction to drugs.

From our observation it was identified that the younger respondents

are more addicted to drugs. One respondent told that his mess

members do drugs and he was influenced by them. The respondents

also become addicted to drugs due to frustration in life due to

poverty. Drug addiction causes adverse effects on them. They

spend a large portion of their earning in taking drugs. As a result

they become poorer.

There is a commonly held belief that rickshaw pullers often go to

watch movies. But interestingly from our research it was found that

only 4% of 100 respondents watch movies in cinema halls. They

spend 3-4 hours when they go to watch movies in cinema halls. The

average age of rickshaw pullers who go to cinema halls is 35 years.

One of the respondents told that he goes to cinema hall and Apu

Bisshah is his favourite heroine. The rickshaw pullers usually go to

cinema halls during their off days. They buy cheap tickets of front

benches which cost 30-60 Tk. Most often they go to cinema halls on

Fridays because cinema halls give 50% discount on tickets.

Some other sources of entertainment:

Apart from these there are some other sources of entertainment of

the rickshaw pullers. 1 of the respondents mentioned that he read

story books during leisure time and read a book named Valo Manush

Valo Jibon by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. 1 respondent capture

photos of his wife and children with his mobile phone. 1 of them said

that he sometimes goes behind processions of political parties with

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his rickshaw. 1 respondent stated that he often goes to brothel for

entertainment. 1 respondent often visits his relative’s house during

leisure time.

Case studies:

Name: Jannat Ali

Age: 22 years

Fazar Ali’s native village is in Rangpur. He goes there once in a year.

He came to Dhaka in 2005 to earn livelihood. He lives in a mess in

Badda. He is illiterate. His wife works at a garment factory in

Gazipur. He pulls rickshaw 10-12 hours everyday and pulls 6 days in

a week. He does not pull rickshaw on Friday. He starts pulling

rickshaw in early morning. He takes a break at noon and comes to

his mess for lunch. After having lunch he usually sleeps for 1-2

hours. Then he again goes for pulling rickshaw in the afternoon after

saying his Asr prayer. He returns home at late night. Fazar Ali earns

400-500 Tk. everyday. He has to deposit 100 Tk. to the rickshaw

owner. He eats his lunch and supper at his mess which costs him

100 Tk. each day. He has to pay 3000 Tk monthly for mess rent.

Sometimes he takes snacks like biscuits, tea, and bread during free

time and leisure time. This costs 40-50 Tk.

Fazar Ali has little opportunity for entertainment. He usually sleeps

during his leisure time. He likes to watch TV but there is no TV in his

mess. Sometimes he listens to songs from his mobile phone. His

favourite singer is Nasrin. On Friday he takes rest at his mess. When

he feels bored he wanders with his friends in his neighborhood.

Sometimes he passes his leisure time by gossiping with his friends.

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Case study 2:

Name: Faridul Islam

Age 32

Faridul Islam came to Dhaka from Joypurhat in 1995 when he was

very young. He goes to his native village once in a month. In Dhaka

he is now staying at a mess which is situated at slum area of

Modhubagh, Moghbazar. He pulls rickshaw for half day. He sleeps till

11 am. He eats his lunch at his mess. After having lunch he goes to

pull rickshaw and work from 2 pm-11 pm and pulls rickshaw

everyday.Daily income of Faridul Islam is 300-400 Tk. From this

income he has to pay 50 Tk. to the rickshaw owner for hiring

rickshaw. Everyday he has to pay 100 Tk for meal to the mess

owner. He pays 3000 Tk. monthly for mess rent.

Faridul Islam usually passes his leisure time by gossiping with other

members of the mess. He smoke cigarette during his free time and

leisure time. K2 is his cigarette brand. Faridul Islam watch TV at his

mess from 12 pm-1 pm. He likes the movies of actor Manna very

much.

Case study 3

Name: Mohammad Mojammel Huq

Age: 30 years

Mojammel Huq is pulling rickshaw in Dhaka city for 7 months.

Before coming into rickshaw pulling he was a cook in Sylhet. But he

could not earn much from cooking. So he came to Dhaka for better

livelihood. His native village is in Kishoreganj. At present he dwells

at Shahjahanpur with his family. He pulls rickshaw from 10 am-10

pm and pulls rickshaw everyday. At noon he has his lunch with his

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family. He has one 10 year old son. He goes to school. Mojammel

Huq’s mother also lives with him. He earns 300-400 Tk per day. He

has to give 70 Tk. for hiring rickshaw. His daily personal expense is

50-60 Tk.

Mojammel Huq smoke cigarette during free time and leisure time.

He smokes Sheikh Cigarette. He gets little spare time. He likes to

spend time with his family.

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