They work in hazardous and inhuman conditions but paid unbelievably small amounts. There are 17 big Bidi factories in the division, including six in Barisal district.

Most of the children are between eight and twelve. But in official records of the factories, there is no existences of child labourers. They are shown as 'assistants'.

One child labourer earns Tk 15 to 20 for twelve hours' work. He is paid Tk four for making 1000 Bidi sticks, which takes about three hours. Thus the average payment per hour is only Tk 1.25. Payments are made weekly.

The working condition is very much unhygienic. Due to pollution from tobacco dust, they develop respiratory problems in early age, and become susceptible to fatal diseases like cancer and bronchitis.

Medical facility by the factory owner for their check-up or treatment is unthinkable.

Most of them are illiterate and so can not learn any other profession. Once they leave the factory in young age, they turn into drug peddler or criminal or labourers to earn livelihood.

The factory owners do not abide by any law.

These were revealed in a recent survey by the Association for Sanitation and Economic Development (ASED), a local NGO. It enumerated 10,000 child labourers in Bidi factories in the division till December last year. The number is increasing with the growth of population and lack of literacy and social awareness.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) prohibits employment below the age of 14.

Literacy and social awareness can solve the problem. The government can easily check child labour at Bidi factories and improve working conditions there, sources said.