The man at the tobacco stall flashed a broad grin at the camera

Man showing his teeth — Man flashing his white teeth

Walking through a street corner in Mymensingh, I suddenly felt a gaze from a small roadside tobacco stall. Peering inside, I found a young man watching me through a gap in the wall. The moment I raised my camera, he broke into a grin. His bright white teeth stood out vividly against the dusty backdrop of the Bangladeshi town, a contrast so striking it seemed almost unreal. Considering local dental conditions, that whiteness must have been either a lucky accident or the fruit of his own quiet effort.

The stall itself was a far cry from the tidy vending machines or neat shelves of a Japanese tobacconist. Cigarettes were not only sold by the pack but also individually, and it seemed that buying just a single stick was far more common than purchasing a full box. With a few coins in the pocket, one could buy just one cigarette—an everyday ritual that fit perfectly into the rhythms of this country’s life. Economic necessity surely played a role, but it was fascinating to see how a single cigarette could stand on its own as a legitimate commodity.

Mymensingh on Google Map

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