The World Cup excitement sweeps across Bangladesh. Universities, tea stalls, and restaurants are buzzing with debates over their favourite teams and players. Football is a source of joy, entertainment, and national conversation. Underneath these celebrations are children who dreams far beyond the football field.
Twelve-year-old Akash works at the canteen of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall at Dhaka University. He was brought to Dhaka, and was left there, by his mother from a remote village in Brahmanbaria to earn a living through work. In exchange for food and shelter, he spends 10 to 12 hours a day serving customers – cleaning tables, carrying water, and washing dishes. Despite his age, he is fighting a daily battle for survival and for living, instead of sitting in a classroom and discussing the World Cup with friends.
At Shahidullah Hall’s night canteen, 14-year-old Asif from Noakhali works long hours with shifts beginning from 4pm and often continuing until 3am. This leaves him little chance to watch the matches of the team he devotedly supports – Brazil.
The contrast is striking. On one side of the wall, students celebrate goals, victories, and football rivalries. On the other side, children like Akash and Asif struggle to earn a living, with little time left for education, recreation, or even rest. Behind the excitement of every World Cup or any national festival, there exists the story of such children securing their next meal, staying connected with their families, and holding on to dreams that many others take for granted, and not supporting a winning team.
If such is the situation of the silent deprivation of the children’s fundamental rights on the premises of Dhaka University, then surely similar situation elsewhere may be alarming. Is this merely fate? Or does the state and society bear responsibility for the future of these children?
Due to extreme economic hardship, significant proportion of children in Dhaka are driven into hazardous sectors. They are found in sectors such as hotels, restaurants, workshops, and various service industries throughout the city. Employers prefer hiring children as they are able to work long hours for very low wages. This results in child labour remaining widespread despite legal protections and policy commitments.
Recent joint data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and UNICEF shows that 9.2 percent of children aged 5 to 17 engage in child labour in Bangladesh. The National Child Labour Survey conducted by BBS estimates that there are currently more than 3.5 million working children in the country. Of these, nearly 1.8 million are involved in child labour, while approximately 1.07 million are engaged in hazardous occupations that threaten their health, safety, and development. These figures stand in absolute contrast to the rights guaranteed to children under both international and national law. Articles 28 and 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recognise every child’s right to education. Similarly, Article 17 of the Constitution of Bangladesh commits the state to providing free and compulsory education for all children. However, these promises exist mostly on paper. Yet the reality remains deeply troubling.
The World Cup end, celebrations will fade, and football fans will move on to the next tournament or another festival. But what will be the future for children like Akash and Asif? Will they ever return to a classroom? Will they have the opportunity to pursue their dreams like other children? The answers to these questions will depend not only on government policies but also on the collective conscience of society. Behind every child labour statistic is a child with dreams, talents, and a future that deserves protection.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is an undergraduate student at the Department of Geography & Environment, University of Dhaka.
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