Bangladesh 2013 Part 1

Bangladesh is a friendly but frequently misunderstood country. It usually only gets a mention by western media when a disaster occurs. Few tourist go there, which is good for those that do, but not so for the Bangladesh economy. This is the first of a series of videos shot on a visit I made in January 2013.
Part one starts with a visit to the spectacular and surreal ship breaking yards on the beach north of Chittagong. Hundreds of ships are dismantled here each year using mostly manual labour, very little mechanisation is employed. The work is hard, dirty and dangerous but it gives thousands of men employment and wages to feed their families. Change must take place, but not at the expense of creating starvation conditions for these people. It took Great Britain over two hundred years to create safe industrial practices and provide the workforce with good working conditions, we cannot expect Bangladesh to achieve these changes overnight.
Following the shipbreaking sequence there are some scenes at a station near Chittagong. Then video shot during a daylight journey from Chittagong to Dhaka on the Sudarna Express. Note the many snack vendors, there is no need to go hungry on a Bangladesh train! The 320km line is currently being doubled throughout to increase capacity and shorten journey time.

[@nickfortunato2938]

Watching a video like this lets me know how blessed I am

[@LeonUnger]

me too.

[@maxasaurus3008]

Exactly

[@jerrywbrice]

That guy who walked off a fast moving train into rocks with a huge jug of food on his head, and never skipped a beat. Legendary.

[@graceleah3216]

x3n0 : That train was doing like 20mph, the guy didn’t miss a step.

[@jerrywbrice]

@@graceleah3216 Can you walk 20 mph? Steps and beats are synonymous in terms of describing a rhythm. Regardless of the language used, what the guy did was impressive.

[@sebastianverney7851]

what a marvellous job you're doing in recording all this, and you have such a good eye for shots

[@tba8241]

I'm a retired Chief Engineer(British Merchant Navy).I've run two VLCC's up the beach where this was filmed.No visitors are allowed in the breaking yards because of what you see here.The owners say they're improving things for the workers,the same people who breath in asbestos day in day out,the same people who lose limbs,never to work again. I was treated like a King whilst I was there,wined and dined by the people who bought the ships,but each time I broached the subject of work conditions the conversation was diverted.They don't want to know what happens in the breaking yard,they just park their fat arses behind their very plush desks and start looking for more ships. I take my hat off to you,Blackthorne57,for visiting the place.It is heartbreaking,it really is.

[@edossp133]

George Anderson hi capt

[@vasavasa7382]

Дудку залепи

[@islamrisul9063]

George Anderson thank u caprian sir but our corrupted gov doesn't feel they busy their jod facking gov bd we hate this gov .

[@itsyoboyskinnypenis7898]

Thanks for the insight.

[@deerhunter7482]

When the fat cats breathe their last breath their afterlife will be eternity as a pig in the mud at the shipyard or a cow at the landfill I hope it was worth it!

[@erikwahlstrom976]

I love these Bangladesh 2013 videos. Thank you for the long unhurried takes and the lack of music.

[@manikdubai5227]

Erik Wahlström ïū

[@RichardWilliams-lr4mj]

They are definitely hard working souls Show them Respect and be kind they are proud people

[@peterpan5098]

Thanks a lot,☺️☺️☺️☺️

[@balmesh]

Fascinating, George. You do get to some out-the-way places!

[@Badmike53]

Thank you very much for your fast response. Since I travel lightly, a monopod is one of my favourite tools to use to get steady footage.

[@billalbion]

I'm 74, pleased to be still strong and able, worked in a industrial scrap yard all my life including driving lorries, torch cutting and breaking up and removing heavy machinery from mills etc. In my early years it was all heavy strenuous hand balled work, often in dusty smokey conditions. These men seem happy enough in their work and not being pushed, also nice warm weather compared to the cold wet winters here in Scotland or trying to break out scrap in keen frost. The comments make me think that some people know little about the very important scrap recycling industry. It has to be done somewhere in the world as raw materials will run out some day. Commenters may not agree, but the lack of bureaucracy and health and safety goons often makes life a lot easier, safer, more productive for men that know there jobs, plus a saving in income tax paying for unnecessary offices. These are real men doing a tough job making money for themselves and their country like many others world wide that break up ships unlike the pet lamb comments men below who don't know about real life. Thanks for posting.

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you for your well considered reply. I am sure in your younger days you were grateful to be employed even if the conditions were harsh. The choice was work or you and your family starved.

[@hasanfoyejul5500]

+billalbion my love & respect for u from BANGLADESH

[@pkshome123]

Still Bangladesh shipbreaking yards follow better safety rules than the world's biggest yard at Alang, India, where on an average 300 workers die in a year due to safety issues. Numbers of ships broken is more than 300 per year. Greed, low cost of labours and available down stream projects makes Alang a unique place for ship breaking, flouting all safety and environment rules! Though I am born as Indian I love Bangladesh.

[@wilsixone]

Thanks for an excellent comment. Well understood.

[@ericvondumb2838]

Pradip: Whether your on top of a compost pile or at the bottom, your still on a compost pile. Your numbers are off too! 194 workers died in a two year span at Alang. Stop being a shill for the great working conditions in Bangladesh. These people are being exploited into their graves and you approve of that? These are men, with their families, working in slave like environments. Shame on you!

[@iayan2810]

very nice documentry ,really gd job

[@almeggs3247]

I like the guys with their arms around each other pulling that cylinder up a hill Shows such love and compassion!

[@brocongonigga3690]

Indian high-tech

[@dancujo5591]

And some only making $6 a day. Feed a family of four seven days a week with that. Someone else commented that we Americans are lucky to have what we do have. Having a bad day at your job, just think about these men.

[@markhal5411]

In 2016, the average HOUSEHOLD INCOME in Bangladesh was $602 US Dollars a year. In only 100 working days, one of these men can provide for his family very well for the entire year.

[@islamrisul9063]

@@markhal5411 u news false we are bangladeshi khow little money pay this ship breaking company per day 6/ 7 doller not much

[@SpaceGhost999]

It's been said, being born in a western country is like winning the lottery.

[@brocongonigga3690]

Indian osha

[@brocongonigga3690]

@@SpaceGhost999 yes like Haiti 😕

[@RRaucina]

As a long time occasional welder, those fumes from cutting copper and lead hull paint is going to create an entire generation of disabled people. Like the American miners before the pneumatic drills were water fed, black lung or silicosis. For a dollar a day these guys could have respirators and shoes or rubber boots. The idea of being barefoot on that beach is mind bending

[@user-tg1yu2bu3z]

Очень интересное и познавательное видео. Очень много ручного труда при том, что есть и современные бульдозера Cat и погрузчики на базе экскаватора Kobelco. Есть просто перлы доисторической механизации. В общем посмотрел все 6 видео из Бангладеш от автора. Очень круто.

[@blackthorne57]

Спасибо

[@steveturpin4242]

It shows how essential unions are to survival in conditions like this!

[@ajadrew]

Great video showing how it is without opinion

[@jamesgrant9289]

Honest hardworking souls. This isn’t fair.

[@timmayer8723]

James Grant it is the way of the third world. Very few chiefs and way too many Indians.

[@Altenholz]

Somehow, a very special mood down there i guess.

[@eleanorwitchercrow6744]

Thank you for sharing yet another great video of you're adventures, I live In the UK but I am from mainland Europe. I think the people are extremely friendly and humble, every country has a poor part, some sadly worse than others, but these people still smile through the tough times, I send to them all peace and light🌜☀️🌛

[@Pladeklassikeren]

I like that. Citigong express. What are they driving, 30 mph

[@RozdelovskeRozhledy]

Excellent video.

[@Badmike53]

How did you get such excellent footage off those ship breaking yards without getting into trouble. What make of camera were you using. Your whole Bangladesh series is well done, it shows this nation by it’s true self. Job well done!

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you for your kind comments. We had prior written permission to visit one of the yards. Not easy to obtain, we had to declare we were not journalists. The yard was much like any scrap-yard with not much of interest to see. Outside the yard we walked along a jetty/pier used for small passenger ferries. This offered good views but only of a few ships. At high tide we 'chartered' a converted lifeboat to view from the seaward side. The pier had open access and I think the 'lifeboat' just needed paying for the trip. Access onto the beached ships is not possible. Do not try to 'bunk' into the yards. I was using a Panasonic HDC SD90 with a Rode Stereo VideoMic.

[@vladimirlaptev4369]

Traveling on the top of the train, deafens the ears...™

[@The123456ml]

Thanks for showing this vidio, it shows how thankful we americans should be.

[@khanvonaltena5780]

Why so many Americans are gay and lesbian. ..😲😲

[@hasansohel88]

why u guys replying negatively? dont you understand english properly? this guys is saying something positively but you all are replying negatively .

[@hasansohel88]

not hatred. lack of knowledge on English language. @xXxPERIO

[@monikachandel2013]

michael lawrence

[@fredcrowle3006]

michael lawrence movies The

[@abdulrahmanabdulghani8833]

TQ for the videos

[@chrisparlow6282]

I would love to see more about this country a lot more some thing not shown to much is this country. Please show this country more thanks and the people

[@blackthorne57]

Hi Chris, Thank you for your interest. This link will take you to my KZbin channel where you will find other videos I have shot in Bangladesh. kzbin.info/door/tN2eb34OgmyHzxa4hnFeEw I have ten albums of photos on Flickr including people, markets, waterways etc. This link should take you to my Flickr page. Search through the thumbnails to find the ones on Bangladesh www.flickr.com/photos/laversentertainers/albums

[@drinkwise1007]

Hi. That was different. Thanks

[@qwertzu87]

за эти сьемки им пришлось хорошо заплатитть и рисковать жизнью ... там просто так непоснимаешь

[@Nick1990Bass]

03:49 "Safety FIrst"....

[@waseemhaydar]

Wow that's great video 📹 Thank you so much 💕 for your Beautiful sharing Greetings from Lahore Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you.

[@BilgePump]

Dang man, use the cranes to rig a overhead winch to move the cut parts over to the loading area. YW.

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Great video and insight into how these poor people struggle to exist in day to today life in a crowded, polluted and over populated country.😃

[@seka1986]

Nice video.

[@tobaccorich]

Great footage of this scary looking place

[@lisamilito3480]

This is very inhumane to have these men working in such horrific and dangerous conditions! And only little money ! I wish I was rich! I'd help every single one of them!

[@paxmule]

NOBODY's that rich - and how do you think the rich got rich?

[@danafield4696]

Lisa Milito Holden bullshit u would ! Your just saying that !u would keep ur money for yourself and your family !

[@meme-bz6iw]

Lisa Milito Holden all bullshit sweetie . If you were rich , for sure were you lay down on the beach without watching this shit. Don’t be hypocrite. They need a miracle not money how messy they are.

[@ardkoreable]

for 10 cents you have a bread over there so 3$ a day is not bad lol

[@14598175]

This happened because lefties pushed these operations out of 1st world countries.

[@tysoncrow8071]

I've seen some beautiful medium to small sized ships with the bridge up towards the front of the ship that I would love to turn into a home

[@sbc388550]

Hire 20 of rhese people to drag it to your property.

[@marcoinsalata8119]

Speachless..

[@Delirium386]

..very nice video....but a nightmare for the workers

[@InsidertecPrapo]

very important job (to the world enviroment) and very small money.... amazing video

[@horrgakx]

Fascinating.

[@kosmovoxuseinov5001]

behind the curtain of the shining lives of rich nations

[@budyri1302]

Me lembra o livro O Inferno de Dante !

[@russg1801]

Note the caption that says "very little mechanical handling is used." Why should they invest in capital equipment when you have an army of desperately poor people who have to labor or starve?

[@bacanichannel2529]

at time 10:02 munutes ,i saw ''MOHEGAN PRINCESS [manila] its made in the ''philippines'' ship why the'y throw out there in bangladesh mud soil, its so sad when i saw the situation work hard force of bengali people out there,.

[@BillBondsHasAPosse]

Russ G Russ my good friend you have upper management written all over you!!

[@ejmaza8174]

@@bacanichannel2529 not made in Philippines but the ship is registered in Philippines Manila port specifically

[@bacanichannel2529]

@@ejmaza8174 ,yeah the philippines is 4rth ship building in the world ,you dont know that if you are filipino you should know that,

[@ejmaza8174]

@@bacanichannel2529 ikr but mohegan princess is not made in PH though. It's a second hand vessel from Japan

[@silkdestroyer]

Does that sign on the wall read"safety first"? Are they serious?

[@darrenlee71]

Funny

[@defencebangladesh4068]

Irony

[@naimsharifakash9989]

Its just a meme. We are used to this type of things.

[@waikwonglai2813]

@@naimsharifakash9989 一一。

[@patrickwhelan5703]

Guys working on the sheet steel in sandals is mind blowing. Bruise a toe much?

[@kt.hehner5997]

Hard working people.a lot of people here in us need to see how ruff it is over their and great we have it.

[@viksud8077]

После этих съемок в Читтагонге вполне можно пересмотреть "свои трудности" в этой жизни.

[@mdnahidislamm.n.s4221]

good warks Bangladesh

[@DC-uo5hy]

These men are working. I have seen this worldwide. They sincerly are gratefull to have a meaningfull job. Please remember, many countries have massive populations with little work. These men have jobs and families. Yes, responsible management and safety are impotant but prosperous people in prosperous countries have no right to be critical of their work. Without tough jobs, the alternative is working a rice field or planting for exceptionaly little money. Please do not shame these men. Write to the companies in these kinds of jobs, they can invest in safer workplaces. It pays in profits. Look at India's ship breaking yards, not perfect but massivly safer and consiquently more profitable.

[@defencebangladesh4068]

thank you

[@jinmatwha264]

After this video, i fell in love with ships even more!

[@kellylamb359]

First Class is an actual seat. Second Class is standing up in the train. Third Class is riding on the roof of the train.

[@Mom_sBasement]

Kids would probably prefer third class. It’s like a ride at Disneyland.

[@p.arnevik6734]

They could easyli made a Star wars set here . May the torch be with you....

[@FSXNOOB]

"Safety First" @3:48 :(

[@delboytrotter8806]

Good video thanx, those poor people. Big business = slave labour.

[@bsbsbsbjsbsbeb555]

ماشاء الله

[@atikrussell6100]

Yes I live in this country

[@northstarstatepolitics1652]

rip these ships they served the oceans well always sad to see them being scrapped

[@kam70111]

Beached a ship at Chittagong. The mud sucks of all types of foot apparel and heavy machinery?

[@fredricful]

Vordan ser det ut her om 500 år? Med drift?

[@papabits5721]

are those steele toe sandles?

[@fredricful]

Hva skjer hvist det ikke blir levert båter til hugging? Hvor mange tusen mister da jobben?

[@vishallovanshi1215]

Respect For All Yard Workers...

[@peteharrison9816]

GOD SAID THAT WE WILL WORK THE LAND ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

[@dandixon4034]

But we do not respect what GOD has given us,We just keep taking, I pray for all of us

[@mangboedz3688]

RIP Safety first..

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Those two men at 11:00 must like some engine thrash, or try avoiding sitting in the diesel fumes by sitting in front of the exhaust port (the second option seems more likely)

[@TAHITIAIRLINES]

Merci pour ces belles prises d'images Thank's for your nice video quality what is camera please?

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you, sorry for the delayed reply. I was using a Panasonic HDC SD90 camcorder

[@TAHITIAIRLINES]

blackthorne57 thank you

[@shajibuae]

They are the real superman who is working under extream condition.this peole can work without any mordern tools.So try to appriciat instead of complaining.This people are used to do it which you can not..................

[@MinhLuanNguyen1985]

Verry good

[@8pietia]

all clear now with the polution

[@CaptainCorr]

Fascinating. The UK economy could grow at the rate it does here if we too had zero health & safety.

[@mowaiskhan8672]

Human is priceless.....

[@garkar908]

Question. Why cant they pull those ships in further on shore instead of being way out there in low tide?

[@blackthorne57]

The ships are beached at high tide, usually under their own power. They weigh tens of thousands of tons. It would be impossible to haul them further in by a winch. Once beached, the hull and superstructure are cut into large chunks and hauled up the beach (see my video) to be further cut up on shore.

[@sooth6119]

Hooly FOCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3:34 like those dudes safety boots !!!

[@BartzabelAlgol]

Really bugged me seeing so many bare and sandaled feet in such a dangerous work environment, I know they are poor but still...

[@lucianofrank9279]

Pensa em um lugar insalubre!

[@fredricful]

Fra ulykke i treffer til du ligger på sykehuset operasjons salen?

[@breakinn403]

Sorry I forgot to put in the video time 0:41

[@fabiano270hd]

Mísericordia 🤕

[@user-gb9zu8ht1m]

Капец жесть!! 21 век на дворе, нууу каждому своё...

[@rameshchadrapatel3448]

At Least bigger countries should donate the equipment and safety gears for those countries

[@Trust54]

how about a Dock for ship

[@SkinnyCow.]

better them than me

[@68TV]

feels like on Mars

[@starman7906]

do you still make Bangladesh video ?

[@blackthorne57]

Thank you for viewing my videos. I have not been to Bangladesh since the start of the Covid Pandemic. Before, I was visiting twice each year. I hope to return when Covid, the airlines and visas allow me to do so. I hope I will be able to upload more Bangladesh videos.

[@jasonhanson6563]

Could you Imagine running a cutting torch in Flip-Flops? Ouch!

[@breakinn403]

Am I mistaken or what? Is that worker in the green shirt wearing a metal looking artificial right leg?

[@hogleg66]

No that’s the sludge from the beach he washing it off just only had one Cleaned off

[@TubeBuzz4u]

beautiful bd

[@dontmissthelittlethings]

👍👍.

[@ManojManoj-fq4mq]

God please help them. There's owners will be living happily they never understand these poor peoples hard work. Bless them to get more money for there hard work

[@ondramarec]

:O nemám slova I am speechless

[@model-man7802]

I love the "Safety First" signs in the Background. 😱😡

[@sandipboricha1385]

I love my Indian railways SPL sleeper couch.

[@premekhomola_BugrGoregrind]

thank you, i would like to see live outside Dhaka..

[@blackthorne57]

Please see the other videos on my Bangladesh playlist. kzbin.info/aero/PLI59z6tJnu5pBQ86BY688f5Ebf3cbErRM

[@premekhomola_BugrGoregrind]

@@blackthorne57 i checked almost all of them, good job. Sometimes you have problem with horizont but i like the way you edit it.No music, just good quality video!

[@rob12449]

some amazing and fascinating footage. I pray for these workers who sacrifice for their families, one day they will have a great reward while the fat salvage yard owners will suffer. I was lamenting cutting up my old water heater to get it out of my basement over the dust I breathed but these men take it day after day.

[@edwinengging4843]

Hi,who can help me buy something from ship breaking yard? Thanks

[@MrHeatscore94]

i can what do you need?

[@jimmysskits7866]

I whold live to tal you but dot know

[@edwinengging4843]

+Jim Tay: Hi, I'm Edwin from Malaysia,my email:[e-mail] & whatsapp/line:60197136211. Thanks

[@SpaceGhost999]

I'll never be able to understand why they don't utilize more machinery in ship breaking. You have 14 guys carrying one piece of plate steel, with a 15th guy pretending to. When you could have one equipment operator instead.

[@blackthorne57]

Increased mechanisation would make a large proportion of the workforce jobless. Bangladesh does not have a social security system; no work means no money to feed their families. Perhaps one day the Bangladesh Government will be wealthy enough to offer state aid to the unemployed, until then hard work for little pay is better than no pay and starvation.

[@frankbutaric3565]

Disposable human labor is cheaper

[@blackrose-je1lq]

It was a giant ship's graveyard, and a pile of iron debris.

[@pasarkeramat550]

I love Bangladesh

[@anwarbinmahfuz.6389]

নাই।ড্রেস নাই সিপ্টি কিচুই নাই কেম্নে এই মানুষ গুলি।এই কাজ।কিরে সে কি কেউ দেখে না।খুজ খবর নেয়

[@adolphnaimo6539]

Cool. ❤️