Gaming in Dhaka | Photo Essay

Finding ways to play games all over the world.

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On a recent trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh, photojournalist Joseph Allchin found something unexpected: kids living on the streets, but still finding ways to play video games. Reporting for Polygon, he writes:

"Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the most densely populated cities in one of the most densely populated countries on the planet. It is also one of the fastest growing. New arrivals often come by boat. And so it is, the old docks area known as Sadarghat is home to a large community of street kids who arrive by boat from broken homes all over the country.

"Like most children their aspirations and desires are consumed by entertainment. As such, video games have a burgeoning presence. The most popular in Old Dhaka is a doctored version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."


Dhaka
"Video game dens are crammed into back alleys. They are the only entertainment available to many."
Dhaka
"Rocky, the proprietor, explains that he opened this game den eight years ago. Its doors have not closed since."
Dhaka
"Rockstar Games’ GTA: Vice City has been doctored to give it a bit more local flavor. Some refer to it as "Bangla Bhai," the nickname of a notorious, now deceased Bangladeshi terrorist. The character seen here is wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Bangladeshi flag, and the game’s soundtrack includes Bangladeshi pop and local rap."
Dhaka
"Liton, 11, arrived on the docks on a boat from Putuakhali at age five. He earns a living collecting scrap and carrying bags for people at the ferry terminal."
Dhaka
"PCs sit above their side panelling, uniformly removed to cool the machines, which in some cases rarely stop running."
Dhaka
"Sunny, the owner of this yard, provided kids a small DVD player to give them something to occupy their time."
Dhaka
"An hour in front of the screen will set a kid back by 20 Taka, which is about 25 U.S. cents. Kids often earn around a dollar a day or less."
Dhaka
"Collecting scrap is a major source of income for street kids. This scrap yard by the Buriganga river’s edge is central to the town’s economy."


Images: Joseph Allchin