'I want to see green fields, a face before I die': The fervent wish of a child prostitute

The words ‘child prostitute’ shows us the tragic image of a childhood none of us would want to live through. Little girls love pretty pink dresses, playing with dolls but can you imagine the life this little has had to lead where her association with happiness comes from being ‘forced’ to laugh?

This little girl could have been in a far better place, nestled in the arms of her father or mother, giggling at nothing, playing with her friends, or going to school. But here she is, sitting behind closed doors crying, but afraid that if she cries she will be scolded.

Afsana’s childhood is a stark reminder of the twisted ways of the world and loss of innocence. She grew up in a brothel in Bangladesh. Her story was captured and narrated by GMB Akash, an award-winning photojournalist based in Bangladesh. Through his lens he has brought out some heart-rending stories from the streets of Dhaka, bringing to us a world hidden amid the bustle of everyday life.

Growing up in a developing country filled with millions of impoverished people and abused children, GMB Akash had access to the darkest corner of the world for which he was passionate. But at some point he realised that just effectively reporting the human rights injustices through his images was not enough. He wanted to find ways to help the subjects of abuse and suffering in his photographs as well. – a description we found on his photoblog.

Below is Akash’s telling of the wish Afsana made for herself:  

It’s been a long time I want to go to a very green field. I have never been in any green field. But I really want to go. I have a disease, I cannot breathe behind a closed door. I also cry while I laugh, I can't control. It’s causing a lot of trouble to our mother. Our mother is our madam. I assured her I will be okay very soon, I will only laugh, will never cry. How I came to this brothel, I have no idea; I was too small to remember anything. But my only problem is, it’s very difficult to breathe here. Also I have no memory of any person; I do not see any face when I close my eyes, I feel all alone. Girls used to say they have no one too. But I tell myself, I must have someone, somewhere, may be a mother, a father or a lost family. I never had anyone to remember. So I try hard to remember a face, just any face, and there comes no one. My friend, Prinyanka usually wipes off my tears very quickly before I ruin my makeup. She always reminds me, makeup is costly than my tears. She told me that one day we will go to a green field, she will take me there and I will breathe as much as I can. Only I hope, on that day I will be able to see someone when I will close my eyes. At least once in my life, I want to feel that I am not alone.

- Afsana

• a child's wish
• wish to see green fields
• Bangladesh brothels