The social organization "Pather Ishkul" organized a fruit festival with more than a hundred street children at Gulistan Park in the capital. There this correspondent met Mostafa Mia of Kishoreganj. He had been living at Kamalapur Railway Station and Gulistan Park for about two years.
Mustafa has been surviving eating one meal a day distributed by the social organization every evening. Over time, he has become addicted to drugs. His home is in Nanshree village of Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj district. His father's name is Tara Mia.
Mostafa said that about two years ago, he took a deposit from his parents to buy a bicycle. But he left the house in anger and took a train from Kishoreganj railway station to Kamalapur.
He worked as a porter at the railway station for one year. Then after a while he became addicted to drugs and spent his earnings on drugs. As the country went in lockdown due to corona pandemic, he stopped earning money.
Getting that news of ‘Pather Ishkul’ distributing food every evening at Gulistan Park Mostafa left Kamalapur railway station for Gulistan Park. He gets to eat there once a day. And he goes hungry rest of the day.
"I have been away from home for two years, no one looks for me, I will return home if anyone comes to pick me up," said Mustafa.
Sakir Mati, founder of Pather Ishkul, said Mostafa used to walk around the park all day. In the evening we actually talk to him about food. If he goes back to his family, he will be able to return to normal life
Although there are no recent statistics, according to a source in 2018, the number of street children in the country is 11 lakh. More than half of them live in the capital Dhaka.
Who are their parents, they have no answer. They live inhumane live in parks, sidewalks or various stations. Although various development projects have been undertaken by the government and non-government organisations so far no project has seen the light of day.
