BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0001-0005 “Poverty was the main reason why my sister and I came to work in the RMG sector” Esmotara (27) says as she poses for a portrait at the Awaj Foundation office in Savar, Bangladesh. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0001-0005 “Poverty was the main reason why my sister and I came to work in the RMG sector” Esmotara (27) says as she poses for a portrait at the Awaj Foundation office in Savar, Bangladesh. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0001-0005 “Poverty was the main reason why my sister and I came to work in the RMG sector” Esmotara (27) says as she poses for a portrait at the Awaj Foundation office in Savar, Bangladesh. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0001-0005 “Poverty was the main reason why my sister and I came to work in the RMG sector” Esmotara (27) says as she poses for a portrait at the Awaj Foundation office in Savar, Bangladesh. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0001-0005 “Poverty was the main reason why my sister and I came to work in the RMG sector” Esmotara (27) says as she poses for a portrait at the Awaj Foundation office in Savar, Bangladesh. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0006-0009 “When we work with the machines inside the factory we do not differentiate ourselves as men and women. We feel like we are all working together as a family.” Esmotara (27) says as she sits at her station in the garments factory where she works. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0006-0009 “When we work with the machines inside the factory we do not differentiate ourselves as men and women. We feel like we are all working together as a family.” Esmotara (27) says as she sits at her station in the garments factory where she works. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0006-0009 “When we work with the machines inside the factory we do not differentiate ourselves as men and women. We feel like we are all working together as a family.” Esmotara (27) says as she sits at her station in the garments factory where she works. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0006-0009 “When we work with the machines inside the factory we do not differentiate ourselves as men and women. We feel like we are all working together as a family.” Esmotara (27) says as she sits at her station in the garments factory where she works. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0010 “Most of the senior officials and supervisors in the factory are men. So most of the time they don’t understand the problems a woman faces day to day.” Esmotara (27). She is speaking to a manager of the factory where she is a union leader. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-EsmatAra-0011-0012 “I wanted to prevent verbal abuse of the employees at my workplace, which is a common scenario in other garments factories.” Esmotara (27) says as she poses inside the factory where she works as a union leader. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-EsmatAra-0011-0012 “I wanted to prevent verbal abuse of the employees at my workplace, which is a common scenario in other garments factories.” Esmotara (27) says as she poses inside the factory where she works as a union leader. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0013 “I am feeling good. Before I got married, everything was about my paternal house, and my siblings. Now I have started my own family, this is a different feeling.” - Esmotara (27) buying vegetables near her new home in Dhaka. Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0014 “All this was possible because my sister was there for me through thick and thin and I was there for her. Nothing would be possible if we did not have each other’s support.” Says Esmotara (27) as she prepares lunch with her elder sister during her break. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh . Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0016-0018 “I wanted to reduce the bad behaviour towards female workers. Now we have structured an Anti-Harassment Committee.” says Esmotara (27) during her interview. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0016-0018 “I wanted to reduce the bad behaviour towards female workers. Now we have structured an Anti-Harassment Committee.” says Esmotara (27) during her interview. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0016-0018 “I wanted to reduce the bad behaviour towards female workers. Now we have structured an Anti-Harassment Committee.” says Esmotara (27) during her interview. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0019-0020 “When I first started working in a factory I quickly understood how difficult it was to be there. You would have to sit for 10 or more hours or stand and keep working. The only time I would feel good in a month is the day I got paid.” says Esmotara (27) as she stands outside the factory she currently works at. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0019-0020 “When I first started working in a factory I quickly understood how difficult it was to be there. You would have to sit for 10 or more hours or stand and keep working. The only time I would feel good in a month is the day I got paid.” says Esmotara (27) as she stands outside the factory she currently works at. She is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. E.P.Z. Road, Ashulia, Dhaka-1349. Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0021-0025 “Whatever we have done, we did for our family. Making education possible for our brothers and sisters and being able to provide for our family helps us feel fulfilled. When we see what we have achieved over the past couple of years, we can’t help but feel proud of ourselves.” says Esmotara (27) as she visits her family home in Rangpur after a year. She is with her older sister Sitara along with her two brothers and younger sister. Esmotara is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Mitha Pukur, Rongpur, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0021-0025 “Whatever we have done, we did for our family. Making education possible for our brothers and sisters and being able to provide for our family helps us feel fulfilled. When we see what we have achieved over the past couple of years, we can’t help but feel proud of ourselves.” says Esmotara (27) as she visits her family home in Rangpur after a year. She is with her older sister Sitara along with her two brothers and younger sister. Esmotara is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Mitha Pukur, Rongpur, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0021-0025 “Whatever we have done, we did for our family. Making education possible for our brothers and sisters and being able to provide for our family helps us feel fulfilled. When we see what we have achieved over the past couple of years, we can’t help but feel proud of ourselves.” says Esmotara (27) as she visits her family home in Rangpur after a year. She is with her older sister Sitara along with her two brothers and younger sister. Esmotara is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Mitha Pukur, Rongpur, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0021-0025 “Whatever we have done, we did for our family. Making education possible for our brothers and sisters and being able to provide for our family helps us feel fulfilled. When we see what we have achieved over the past couple of years, we can’t help but feel proud of ourselves.” says Esmotara (27) as she visits her family home in Rangpur after a year. She is with her older sister Sitara along with her two brothers and younger sister. Esmotara is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Mitha Pukur, Rongpur, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

BD-RMG-IsmatAra-0021-0025 “Whatever we have done, we did for our family. Making education possible for our brothers and sisters and being able to provide for our family helps us feel fulfilled. When we see what we have achieved over the past couple of years, we can’t help but feel proud of ourselves.” says Esmotara (27) as she visits her family home in Rangpur after a year. She is with her older sister Sitara along with her two brothers and younger sister. Esmotara is the union leader for a small garments factory in Bangladesh, fighting for the rights of workers. Mitha Pukur, Rongpur, Bangladesh. Photo Credit: b.a.sujaN / Plan International / Map Photo Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh.