Hasan, a 16-year-old orphan, abandoned his dream of studying to survive. Raised by his elder brother, he worked at Solaiman Press in Dhaka’s Banglabazar for three years.
Despite putting in 56 hours a week, Hasan earns a mere Tk6,000–Tk7,000 per month.
"I grew up with my elder brother, and to support him, I started working as well. I earn about 6 to 7 thousand taka a month, and if I work overtime, I make a bit more," Hasan said.

"Losing my parents shattered my dream of studying," Hasan said.
A visit to the press area in Old Dhaka reveals a troubling sight: many children and adolescents are employed in local printing presses. They are engaged in tasks like printing, operating heavy machinery, and bookbinding, all while surrounded by towering piles of paper and stacks of books.
Most of the workers are between 10 and 18 years old. These factories lack basic health and safety measures, with many children working in harsh conditions, often without proper clothing.

Attempts to capture photos or videos of the situation are frequently met with resistance from both the children and other workers.
Fifteen-year-old Md Ibrahim is another young labourer at Suborno Press in Sutrapur. He began working here two months ago after leaving his previous job at a showroom. Ibrahim’s father is a painter, and after his mother’s death, financial hardships forced him to abandon his education after completing primary school.
"I work from 9am to 10pm," said Ibrahim.
"At noon, they give me Tk40 for food. By the end of the month, I earn between Tk6,500 and Tk7,000, with a little more if I work overtime. If I had been able to continue my studies, I had hoped to secure a government job."
The story is much the same for Ashiq and Rabbi, who work at Desh-Bidesh Book Binders. Ashiq, 18, and Rabbi, just 11, live with their family in Abdullahpur. With their father working as a rickshaw puller and struggling to make ends meet, the brothers were forced to join the workforce to help support the family.
"I work from 9am until midnight," said Rabbi. "The pay is very low. I work, eat, and sleep here," he added.
 Md Nurul Haque, the owner of Desh-Bidesh Book Binders, denied the allegations of employing children for long hours.
“Many adults work here, but he (Rabbi) is like one of our grandchildren. He works here while visiting his relatives' house. He’ll leave the workplace after noon," said Nurul Haque.
In this regard, Md Hanif Ali, Treasurer of the Bangladesh Printing Industries Association, denied the allegation of employing children for heavy labour, stating, “Some children work in the bookbinding section, not in the printing section."