The sidewalks of Dhaka serve as both home and shelter for countless street children.
Among them is twelve-year-old Abu Bakr, who shared his heart-wrenching story: “The sidewalk of this street is my home, the sidewalk is everything. I have never seen my father. My mother and I used to live on whatever we could get by begging. At the time, I lived at Kamalapur station and studied at an NGO school. But after my mother passed away during the coronavirus pandemic, everything was closed. Now, I live on this street in Gulistan and I eat by begging. If I don’t get anything, I go hungry.”
According to Abu Bakr, he has nothing left in the city except the name his mother gave him. His only wish is to survive by eating three meals a day.
Abu Bakr’s story is a stark reminder of the dire situation faced by many street children in Bangladesh.
A 2024 Unicef survey revealed that the number of disadvantaged street children in the country has risen to 3.5 million, with 400,500 of them living on the streets of Dhaka.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and Unicef’s “Survey on Street Children 2022” found that 27% of children aged 5 to 17 had lost one or both parents, and 38% were forced to take to the streets due to poverty.
These children face numerous adversities, including the struggle for food and shelter, neglect, abuse and the trauma of past and present experiences.
Experts warn that these deep wounds create post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and push children towards criminal activities as a coping mechanism.
Despite the efforts of various government and private organizations, the mental health issues of street children remain neglected.
A recent study conducted by the Ekmattra Society, in partnership with Very50 and supported by the Toyota Foundation, highlighted the extent of this mental health crisis.
The study focused on 80 disadvantaged street children and 20 guardians in Dhaka and found that 82.5% of children had suffered from mental trauma, while 12.5% had experienced physical trauma.
The main causes of mental trauma included sexual abuse, witnessing violence, relationship challenges and neglect.
Street children like Maruf, who has been addicted to “Dandy” since the age of ten, are struggling to cope with the deep wounds created in their minds.
Although not classified as a drug, Dendrite gums (Dandy) serve as an intoxicant and are commonly used in repairing shoes and electronic products.
Previously, he made a living by picking and selling flowers, but now he resorts to crimes like pickpocketing and robbery to fund his drug habit.
Maruf stated: “No one gives me work. No matter what I do, they don’t pay me properly. So when I don’t get it, I do all these jobs (crimes) and take Dandy. I used to not take it, but when my friends were around, I had to take it. Moreover, when I consume Dandy, I don’t feel hungry. No words enter my mind. I don’t remember any problems. That’s why I take it.”
The study revealed that 46% of street children who experienced trauma were involved in drug use and criminal activities, while 17% were self-harming.
Expert psychologist and psychotherapist Professor Dr Mahjabeen Haque emphasized the need for good behaviour and love to help these children recover from trauma, saying: “Children need good behaviour and love to recover from this trauma. It should not only be verbal but also in activities.”
Professor Dr Niloy Ranjan Biswas, lead researcher of the study and founder of Ekmattra Society, underscored the urgent need for mental health support for street children.
“The relevant government departments and various private NGOs are working on basic needs, but it is not possible to provide much help to street children with their mental condition. Unlike physical wounds, mental wounds are not visible. That is why this place has always been neglected,” he said.
Forhad Hossain, founder and executive director of Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO), echoed these concerns, highlighting the need for a child-friendly medical system and a supportive society.
“To protect the mental health of children, we must make the medical system we have child-friendly. Along with this, we must build a beautiful society for children,” he said.
As Abu Bakar and countless other street children continue to struggle for survival, it is imperative that society, government and organizations come together to address these issues and provide a better future for these vulnerable children.
