Familiar sights unfold on the streets and sidewalks of Dhaka every day, easily noticeable to passersby. Children form groups, carrying sacks filled with garbage on their shoulders. While clutching the sack with one hand, some hold a piece of polythene bag in the other.
They place the inflated bag near their mouths and sniff it. These children are not simply playing or experimenting–they are grappling with an addiction to sniffing glue, colloquially called "dandy.”
Owing to its accessibility and affordability, street children are increasingly succumbing to its addiction, other than being hooked on another readily available and inexpensive substance marijuana.
Conversations with street children across various areas of the capital reveal a concerning trend: those addicted to drugs are posing a threat to their peers. Intoxicated by these substances, they engage in violent activities, often leading to criminal involvement.
Unfortunately, other street children bear the brunt of this behaviour, becoming victims of both violence and extortion as addicted children demand money from their fellow youngsters.
Dandy, essentially a form of glue known as dendrite adhesive or dendrite, is a substance referred to as such by drug addicts. Street children buy this glue from cobblers to get high. Usually used for bonding various products, including electrical appliances, plastic consumables and leather, it is also sold at electrical and hardware stores.
Alarming statistics
According to a 2022 study by the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), 58% of the country's street children are grappling with drug addiction. Around 14% of these children begin using drugs even before they reach the age of 10.
The study highlights 31.7% of street children turning to cannabis, drawn by its accessibility and affordability. Additionally, 15.2% of street children are addicted to dandy.
The DNC and Unicef report, based on their findings, an estimated 75,000 street children addicted to dandy in the capital.
Violence, extortion
Street children from different locales of the capital, such as Kamalapur Railway Station, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Jigatala, Mirpur and Suhrawardy Udyan, told Dhaka Tribune of the danger individuals with drug addiction posed to them.
"Someone who takes dandy took away all my money just a few days ago. These kids are around our age, and they consume dandy under the local bridge to avoid detection,” said Rajan (not his real name), who lives in Dhanmondi.
Billal, using a pseudonym, shared: "I earn a living by cleaning boats, making Tk150-200 a day. However, they (dandy addicts) forcibly take our money; they beat us up if we resist. While we can handle boys our age, the older ones are much stronger than us.”
Nine-year-old Asma (not her real name) studies in a school for street children. Little Asma has also been harassed by street children addicted to drugs.
“They come to school in the morning, but they are always drowsy. These boys and girls sit under trees and get high. They do not listen to elders.
“And whenever they get a chance, they beat us up without provocation. A friend of mine was pummelled just a few days ago, and he cannot walk properly now. Then one day they snatched Tk40 from me, leaving a mark on my hand in the process, and I lost a lot of blood.”
Another little boy named Rakib shared his experience with dandy addicts at Chandrima Uddyan. "These boys come around here often. They say they do not feel hungry when under the influence of this drug. When they run out of money, they resort to snatching money from us."
"Drug addicts consistently live in their own fantasy world, often losing touch with reality. Their actions are driven by their addiction, and they can go to any lengths for drugs. I recently witnessed a drug-addicted boy running off with someone’s mobile phone, but he was eventually apprehended by locals. Their desperation for addiction makes them capable of anything," said Emon, another street child.
Expert opinions
According to experts, dandy consumption leads to a loss of appetite and appears to contribute to a disconnect from social reality. It is not uncommon to see them sleeping at random places, be it day or night. Because of their addiction, there is a risk of these street children becoming involved in criminal activities at an early age or as they mature.
They said reintegrating street children into the mainstream of society was the primary solution, which posed a significant challenge. Addressing this formidable task required concerted efforts from the government, in collaboration with private and social organizations, they added.
Sub-Inspector Rezaul Karim, who is with the Special Branch of the police, said street children often engaged in various forms of drug abuse, including glue-sniffing, on sidewalks, in parks or at bus stands and train stations.
“These children pose an undeniable threat to their peers and face allegations of becoming involved in criminal activities. Parents need to stay vigilant, and relevant stakeholders should implement effective measures to address the issue."
Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative in Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune that these drugs were cheaper than food, which was why so many street children consumed them to suppress their hunger.
“Unicef is working to get these children away from drugs and rehabilitate them,” he added.
However, this undertaking was challenging and necessitated the collaboration of all segments of society, Yett said, adding that increasing awareness and fostering community engagement through preventive measures could contribute to improving the situation.
The Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs were actively involved in addressing the challenges faced by street children, he continued.
Various initiatives were in place to ensure their access to food, healthcare and education, the Unicef official added. “We also try to work with their families."
