The Street Crew

Here's how work gets done in Dhaka:

Of course, it all starts with a woman.

In our neighborhood, the asphalt crew was working recently on UN Road a couple blocks from our house. Storm sewers were put in one year ago (also by hand), and now the asphalt crew is smoothing over the holes and trenches left by the installation.  

The Asphalt Machine

Once the fire, fuelled by sawdust-like bits of fabric, is going well, the gravel and oil are combined and mixed by the rakers, who then move it onto the "truck" for delivery.  It's spread over the trench or hole, oiled and then flattened with a more familiar piece of equipment.  

 As with everything else here, a certain division of labor is always present.  

Loading the hot stuff on the truck.

The Delivery Truck

No back-up signals.  

Dropping the load

The Oiler, the Raker and the Spectator

Someone has to be in charge.

The Fireman (seated on burlap bags) throws fabric fuel on the fire.