The stark truth about homeless children

The recent story of a boy who went viral for climbing onto the roof of the Dhaka Metro Rail train was initially seen as a dangerous act. But his interview with journalists revealed a much more alarming and neglected issue in our country. Yasin is his name but he does not know how he came to Dhaka or who his parents are. He has only roads, parks, and railway stations to call home. His only closer relation is his brother, who lives in Brahmanbaria. He shuttles between Dhaka and Brahmanbaria by climbing on the roof of trains without tickets to visit his brother. 

When jokingly asked by journalists whether he is afraid of being put in jail, Yasin simply replied that "That's alright as long as I am provided with food and not beaten." Yasin's heart-breaking reply made us realise the kind of abusive and deprived upbringing he endured, and how our country has failed him.

Like Yasin, countless children in our country have nowhere to call home and are left to survive on their own on the street. Many of them are often subjected to abuse and trafficking. With no other way to survive, they often turn to petty crimes. To escape the harsh reality, many of them also fall victim to drug addiction.

The incident that took place at the Dhaka Metro train involving Yasin revealed the fact that although Bangladesh has developed its infrastructure by taking on many mega projects, such as the Padma Bridge and the Dhaka Metro Rail, our country still has many unresolved issues that should have taken priority. The safety and well-being of all children is an essential part of any successful country.

Thousands of children are living on the streets of Dhaka, according to the UNICEF. Some of these children are from broken families, some escaped abuse and some were abandoned at birth. Many of these children do not survive the hostile environment, some get trafficked. There is no one to look after them, care for them, or even notice them. Along with the daily hostility and abuse they face, it is obvious why Yasin and many others like him would find jail to be a desirable place. It only proves that it is not their reckless behaviour that we should be more concerned about, but rather how we and our country have failed these children.

There are some shelters for these children, but they are not sufficient in either number or in resources. Most shelters are abusive and extremely strict, prompting many children to flee. Children like these need rehabilitation through counselling, education, vocational training and social integration.

We have the National Child Policy 2011 and the Children Act for the protection of children from exploitation, abuse, and neglect and for promoting their rights to education, health and other basic needs. However, these instruments have failed to make any difference to the lives of homeless children. We need to ensure that homeless children receive rehabilitation with the help of social workers, psychologists, educators and law enforcement agencies. Instead of providing the kids with temporary shelter, we have to ensure they are taken to a safe environment that focuses on their long-term rehabilitation and social integration.

Also, as a society, we must bring about a change in the way we perceive the actions of homeless children. Rather than thinking that they are at fault, we should think about how we have failed them. At an age where they are supposed to be going to schools and playing with their friends and be under the protection of their parents, they are on the streets fending for themselves. They are not the criminals but the victims. They deserve empathy, not judgement.

Yasin's story is a wake-up call that made us realise how countless children are living a horrible life and how they are being neglected. It is high time we stood by them and ensured their childhoods are saved.

rahmansrdk@gmail.com