23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Climbing Barrels, Chasing Survival .

In a barrel factory at Chittagong, workers arrange towering stacks of oil drums that rise like man-made mountains. The factory produces 350–400 barrels each day, demanding relentless physical effort. Amid these precarious piles, men climb, lift, and balance heavy barrels in exhausting and hazardous conditions. Yet, despite the danger, their daily wage is just 4-5 USD. These scenes reflect the stark reality of industrial labour in Bangladesh, where resilience, risk, and survival intertwine—human effort undervalued against the backdrop of relentless industrial growth.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Chattagram (BD), Bangladesh
Camera: ILCE-7M4
Copyright: © MD Shamim ul Islam