A heartbreaking and dramatic scene at Dhaka railway station in Bangladesh has gone viral, showcasing the desperate plight of a young railway coolie who was forced to sprint alongside a moving train after a passenger allegedly refused to pay him for his services.
The video, posted on Facebook by user Sojol Ali, shows the young coolie running alongside the fast-moving train, repeatedly calling out and pointing toward a specific compartment where the passenger was seated. Despite his visible distress and appeals, no one inside the train compartment responded or intervened to help the young man recover his payment.
Onlooker Attempts to Intervene
The person filming the incident, Sojol Ali, can be heard in the background attempting to offer immediate assistance. Recognizing the coolie’s dangerous and futile struggle, the person filming is heard asking for the coolie’s phone number, offering to send the due money directly to him. HT.com has reached out to Sojol Ali for further details and to confirm if the payment was made.
The incident starkly highlights the precarious and challenging daily lives of small vendors and coolies who rely heavily on every single payment to make a living, often working in tough and unsafe conditions, such as running beside moving trains.
Social Media Outrage and Calls for Help
The video quickly drew strong and emotional reactions across social media platforms. Viewers widely praised the young coolie’s determination and courage while simultaneously expressing profound outrage at the passenger’s “cruel” and “heartless” behavior.
- Many users felt deep sympathy, with one commenter writing: “Very heartfelt video, my heart aches for this kid. Can someone please find him and pay him his dues?”
- Another user condemned the passenger’s actions, stating, “I feel sorry for the man who didn’t pay, as he will face God’s displeasure. May Allah bless the passenger who kindly asked the young coolie for his payment details.”
- Other comments called for greater respect and fairness toward daily wage workers, with one individual commenting, “Nothing in the world matters if one cannot be human first. Respect all, they all have their own struggles.”
The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of laborers in public spaces and the urgent need for passengers to treat all service providers fairly and with respect.