Throughout the world thousands of organizations including the United Nations and its sister concerns are working to stop the child labor across the world. But the fact is still several million children work for extremely long hours in exchange for little pay at the risk of maltreatment, workplace violences, health issues, as well as at the cost of their lives. Instead of being in school, these children are left at mercy of a cruel world where they continue to struggle hard as child labors. Despite government recognition of laws against child labor and empty-pledges made by politicians to end child labor in the country, these children – our future – is being crushed by the unkind society.
One such child labor, Johirul, (Age-Not known, May be around 12), working for the last few years is not alone in his profession. When asked about his education, he answered negatively that he never went to school. Then I asked him about his dream, he answered “Nothing, no dream, I just want to live and have food three times a day”.
Like Johirul there are several thousand children living miserable lives by working 10-14 hours a day and earning as little as Tk-80-100 per day in the glamorous cities such as Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, etc. Unfortunately, in many places they just earn their food three times a day without any cash payment.
Most children work in auto-mechanical shops while several others work as car washer and cleaner. Others can be seen mending flat tyres, selling flowers at traffic signals, or selling fruit and vegetables in markets or working as house-maids.
The irony of fate is, people around these children are building their fortune, turning their dreams into reality by the cost of these children’s golden childhood, their priceless dreams.
I am sure Johirul has survived the cruelty of the world and made a way for himself. I am also hopeful that he has and still is trying to make peoples’ life better wherever he is.