"My dream is to get a good job with a big salary"
Mizanur, age 10

"I send my parents every single taka I can. I went home last Eid Festival. I gave 700 taka to my parents, all that I had saved in two painful months. I bought them some food and we used the remaining money to repay loans. One Eid I will have enough money to buy new clothes for everybody in my family. I never went to school, nor did my brother or sisters. My parents wanted to send me, but they couldn't afford it. I really would like to go to school if I got some source of income to support my family. My dream is to get a big job with a big salary.

I often feel sick working on the tempo. I would like to give it up. But then I think of my poor family and change my mind. If I stopped working they would starve.

When there is a hartal (strike) the tempos don't run, so I have to spend my savings or borrow. I usually join the political demonstration - I don't support any party but people ask us to help. I run away when I see police trucks because tempo boys are often attacked and beaten by the police. Traffic police ask us for money for tea. If I don't pay, they get angry and dangerous. If I pay, my Ustad deducts the money from my
wages.

I never go to the cinema. My father said it spoils the brain and I don't have money to waste. Sometimes I go to see football near my house but I don't play.

I get up at 5:30 in the morning. After washing I go out for work. I come to Gulshan from Badda on foot - it's about a mile - and then to Farm Gate by any tempo or bus. I pay one taka for the bus fare but if I come by the tempo it's free because we are the
tempo boys."