GMB Akash, a photographer from Bangladesh, captures people with a touching backstory in his pictures.  

One such photograph narrates a tale of a man who worked as a cleaner but hid it from his kids all his life to save them from the embarrassment. This poignant photograph speaks volumes about how different people with different backgrounds are faced with different struggles to find their way to happiness. 

Here’s his story, in his own words:

I never told my children what my job was. I never wanted them to feel shame because of me. When my youngest daughter asked me what I did, I used to tell her hesitantly that I was a labourer. 

Before I went home I used to take bath in a public toilet so they did not get any hint of the work I was doing. I wanted to send my daughters to school to educate them. I wanted them to stand with dignity in front of people. I never wanted anyone to look down on them like everyone looked down upon me. People always humiliated me. I invested every penny of my earning for my daughters’ education. I never bought a new shirt, instead used the money to buy books for them. Respect is all I wanted them to earn for me. 

You can also read the full post here:

What a heart-touching story!