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Visit puts wet weather into perspective

Members of Australia's Test squad gained an insight into the lives of local residents on Thursday when they met families from Dhaka's Satolla slum

While the unrelenting monsoon season looms large over Australia's Qantas Test Tour of Bangladesh, the effect heavy rain may have on Sunday’s series opener was put into sharp perspective for members of the Test squad on Thursday.

Any concerns over their washed-out tour game or their modified preparation for their first Test tour of Bangladesh in more than a decade were pushed to one side as six Australian players visited Oxfam’s headquarters in the Dhaka commercial district of Mohakhali.

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Captain Steve Smith along with Usman Khawaja, Josh Hazlewood, Hilton Cartwright, Jackson Bird and Mitch Swepson spent the morning learning of the struggle more than a million Dhaka slum residents face in accessing clean water, as well as the severe working conditions of domestic workers and the effects of a rapidly urbanising city.

And of course posing for a few selfies and group photos with the eager locals in attendance.

Image Id: A86767E2C1F148149F46CB33077FE66F Image Caption: Steve Smith takes a selfie with fans // Getty

With support from the Australian government, Oxfam runs projects to help provide drinking water and sanitation facilities to flood-prone slums, as well as ensuring some of the country's most vulnerable workers receive basic working rights.

The death toll from flooding in Bangladesh is in triple figures this year while more than seven million have been affected.

"We get sheltered from it a little bit, it's not in our papers and you don't read about it a lot," Khawaja said.

"But the community has been affected. We've been here for a little under a week and we've seen how quickly it rains."

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The Australia players heard the moving life stories of a handful of Bangladeshi women, who described the hardships - forced marriages, physical abuse and punishing working conditions among them – they'd encountered before finding assistance.

With the help of Oxfam's Domestic Workers Project, these women have been able to enrol in skill training and gain access to better labour conditions.

"You do expect it in this part of the world but until you actually hear it, it doesn't quite sink in," Khawaja said.

"One of the girls talked about growing up and the hardships she faced in life, and she couldn’t finish her story off, it was so dramatic.

"Afterwards we got to meet them which was probably the best part, got to talk to them about life in Dhaka, (we) talked about cricket. They all seemed to like cricket.

"It's just been a really good experience especially hearing about everything that Oxfam is doing (as) a non-government organisation and in particular helping out with the water system."

Image Id: ACBE76DE846E429A88D015BC9C642AFB Image Caption: Australia's squad members were given in insight into life in Dhaka // Getty

One of the organisation's major achievements has been installing two water vending machines in Dhaka slums.

Illegal water vendors – often selling contaminated water at inflated prices – who prey on vulnerable residents are a major issue in poor neighbourhoods.

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The 'water ATMs', which provide up to 20 litres of water for the nominal price of five Taka (about eight cents in Australian dollars), has had a strong impact on reducing instances of diarrhea and skin diseases spread by dirty water.

"We take it for granted so much back home," Khawaja continued.

"Clean water just comes out of a tap and we drink it. You don't really think about how important clean water is until you hear their stories.

"They talked about how they get diarrhea and diseases from the unclean water and people die from it.

"It's great to see those water ATM machines up and running and hopefully they can get more of them."

To learn more about Oxfam’s work in Bangladesh, or to make a donation, click here

Australia in Bangladesh 2017

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Mominul Haque.


27-31 August First Test, Dhaka


4-8 September Second Test, Chittagong