Dhaka, Jan. 6 -- In Tikatuli, in the heart of Old Dhaka, Mobarok Hossain sits hunched over a sewing machine inside Capital Market, adjusting the fit of trousers and shirts for customers who now bargain harder than ever. Once, winter brought steady work and modest comfort. This year, he says, the orders have thinned.

With his income shrinking, the tailor has begun buying household necessities from footpath stalls, saving a few taka where he can.

"At the start of winter, work is usually heavy. People buy new clothes. By the end of the season, it slows," he told bdnews24.com. "This time, the work just isn't there -- almost half of what it used to be. Life has become hard."

He pauses, then continues, his voice dropping. "Allah feeds us wit...