Life Behind the Leaves: Hidden story of Tea workers | Dr. Md. Al-Amin | TEDxSUST

What if every cup of tea carried a life story we never stopped to see?

Dr. Md. Al-Amin invites us beyond the beautiful green landscapes of Bangladesh’s tea gardens and into the lives of the people who work behind them. Through his research and experiences, he shares the struggles, hopes, sacrifices, and everyday realities of tea-garden workers and their families; people whose lives often remain invisible behind the leaves we see.

This talk is a reminder to look beyond what reaches our cup and remember the human lives that make it possible. Dr. Md. Al-Amin is a Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). He holds a PhD in Sociology and Methodology of Social Research from the University of Milan, Italy, and has extensive research experience in development, labor studies, marginalized communities, and social vulnerability.

His research has focused particularly on the lives and livelihoods of tea plantation workers in Bangladesh, including poverty, education, labor control, social exclusion, and occupational mobility. His work has been published in international peer-reviewed journals, including Labor History and Children’s Geographies. He has also led research projects examining the challenges and social vulnerabilities faced by tea-garden communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx