It’s an unlikely pairing, but it’s genuine alright — a Singapore-based YouTuber from Japan and a Singapore-based migrant worker from Bangladesh are best of buds. 

Born in Osaka and raised in the United States, the popular vlogger who goes by the name of Ghib Ojisan has spent his days here documenting the little-known suburbs of the country that normcore tourists wouldn’t visit. Like Sengkang, Yishun, and Sembawang Hit Spring Park, for example. 

But another interesting factoid about him is that he actually made friends with a migrant labourer from Bangladesh, and their friendship is pure. Having struck a friendship with him on the streets of Singapore last year, they’ve been hanging out together a couple of times, including checking out a food bazaar in Paya Lebar and going out for sushi at Maki-San. 

Unfortunately, they can’t hang out anytime soon due to the coronavirus outbreak. With the circuit breaker measures in place till May, cabin fever has struck Ghib hard, and it’s understandable — the man’s content revolves around going out and discovering new places in Singapore. 

But it might feel even worse for Ghib’s "Bangladeshi Bro", but from the video call made by Ghib, the man is doing just fine. 

It’s unclear if the man is living in one of the dormitories that have been gazetted as isolation areas, but according to his description about food and drinks being brought in by the authorities, it would appear to be that he is. The Ministry of Manpower has assured that it would be catering food for workers living in the quarantined dormitories. 

Ghib was also happy to learn that his bro’s salary is being paid for in full by the government during the period of work stoppages. 

“My own country, Bangladesh, government no pay salary [sic].” The Bangladeshi man remarked. “But Singapore better. Salary and makan, all have.” 

Bangladeshi Bro also assured that his family and friends are doing alright amidst the outbreak and semi-lockdown, and that he’s been whiling away the hours by playing with his phone and calling up his group of friends. 

The sad part is that his mother back home has been crying during her calls with him and she has been urging him to return to Bangladesh. Nonetheless, he’s happy to stay in Singapore because the healthcare situation’s not that great in his homeland, he said. 

It would also appear that he seems pretty fine with his abode, with no complaints that hark back to the reportedly unpleasant conditions found by The Straits Times at S11 Dormitory @Punggol.

“It is so easy to get infected when you are living with so many people in such a small space,” Ghib reflected at the end of the video, though he’s happy that his friend has been staying positive during these troubled times. 

ilyas@asiaone.com

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