Julekha, a garment worker, lives in a small, rented room with her disabled child. There are no sanitary toilets, no cooking gas, and she is worried about her child’s safety, education, and health. Every day, Julekha has to go to work, facing various obstacles.
The play “Julekha’s Life” showcases the daily struggles and needs of millions of garment workers like her. Mohammed Elias, a garment worker in the audience, notes that their real lives often mirror those portrayed in the play. He shares that accessing any service often requires extra money.
On Friday afternoon, the theatrical performance took place at the Savar Upazila Parishad Hall as part of the “Amio Jitte Chai” campaign to highlight citizens’ expectations. More than one hundred workers from the Savar area enjoyed the play. During the event, they voiced their housing issues and various demands.
Under the funding of USAID and the initiative of Democracy International, the “Amio Jitte Chai” campaign has a website named amiojittechai.com, where participants can also express their opinions. Workers had the opportunity to create video messages demanding solutions to their daily problems from the authorities. Garment worker Marzia stated that she wants more daycare centers for children and effective measures to prevent fire accidents in all factories.
Attending the theatrical performance were Lesley Richards, Deputy Chief of Party (Operations) for the SPL Project of Democracy International; Aminul Ehsan, Deputy Chief of Party (Programs); and the event was conducted by Senior Program Officer Ashrupa Haque Chowdhury.
The “Amio Jitte Chai” campaign aims to highlight citizens’ expectations through theatrical performances and discussions across various districts and campuses. Organizers believe that this will prompt relevant authorities to take action to fulfill the expectations of youth and marginalized communities in society.
