In many of the busy intersections of the capital, every time a traffic police signals for a stop, small children, with packets containing candies of various kinds in their hands, rush towards the vehicles standing in the signals.
If someone buys a candy from one of those children, they may think that they have done the child a favour by buying a Tk1 candy, which may ensure a meal for the poor kid.
But the truth is – the Tk1 that the child gets by selling a candy does not entirely goes into his pocket.
The kid has to pay 10% of the money that he gets by selling a candy to a group of goons, locally known as “mastans” or “boro bhai” (big brother).
The Dhaka Tribune reporter recently talked to a seven-year old girl kid who sells candies on the streets of Dhaka.
“We usually spend almost the entire of our incomes for food, but not before paying at least 10% to the mastans,” said Shahana, the kid.
Hundreds of these children – many as young as Shahana – earns around Tk20-30 per day by selling candies. They are bound to pay the amounts to the mastans, otherwise they will not be allowed to sell anything.
“We give the mastans Tk10 everyday so that they allow us to sell candies or other things on the street,” Shahana said.
“Since I cannot pay more than 10% of my income, I cannot to the other parts of the street. The mastans have their own areas. Those who can pay more can only go to other parts of the street,” she added.
These children, mostly from ultra-poor floating families that live in the slums and roadsides of the capital, contribute significantly to the meagre earnings of their families, many of whose only endeavour is to ensure at least one meal a day.
Apart from candies, these children also ferry flowers and newspapers running from one bus to the other and knocking at the windows of cars.
Badsha, an 11-year old boy, who sells various things at the capital’s Bijoy Sarani intersection, told this reporter: “I came here with my mother when I was two years old. Every day I have to give my mother Tk50. Since I have to give the ‘boro bhai’ a part of my income, I have to beg after finishing my day’s sell so that I can cover for the Tk50 target.
“When I will be 14, I will be eligible to become a boro bhai of this area. I wish to become a boro bhai one day,” Badhsa said.
According to the UNDP, the total number of street children in Bangladesh is over 400,000. Nearly half of these children live in Dhaka city alone. A very large percentage of these children are young girls.
These girls are said to be particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. They have to pay more for ensuring their physical safety and sanctity.
In March, 2012, research organisation Unnayan Onneshan published a report titled “Social Connection of the Street Girls in the Context of Dhaka City, Bangladesh.”
The research showed that a majority of the street girls (37.50%) sell flowers for a living. Nearly half of these girls have a daily turnover of Tk100-300.
“But we are the unlucky ones. We have to give away 30% of our incomes to the local mastans, police and our fellow boy children,” said Swapna, a street girl child.
Wahida Banu, executive director of Aparajeyo Bangladesh, said they had been trying to save these children from such harassments.
“In the National Child Policy 2011, no comprehensive coverage is given to street children. There is a compelling need for the policy to be sensitive towards this vulnerable segment. Street children need to be distinguished but not isolated from other children in policy frameworks,” she added.
