85% of Street Children Addicted to Drugs
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
A small plastic bag filled with yellowish liquid glue sits in the hands of 10-year-old Rahat. Pressing the bag against his nose and mouth, he inhales deeply. His eyes roll back, and his face turns strangely numb.
Sitting beside the railway tracks in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area, Rahat appears lost in the effects of intoxication.
“It may be a kind of addiction,” some street children say. “When you inhale the fumes from the glue, you no longer feel hungry. It makes you sleepy.”
Like Rahat, thousands of children at bus terminals, railway stations, parks, and sidewalks across the capital use intoxicating substances every day, putting their lives at risk.
Locally known as ‘Dandy’ or glue sniffing, the practice involves inhaling fumes from a volatile adhesive commonly used in shoe manufacturing. The substance has become a cheap and easily accessible intoxicant among street children.
At the Rampura foot over-bridge, 9-year-old Iman shared a similar story. He does not know where his parents are. He survives by collecting waste paper and earns just enough money to eat on some days.
“When I have no money and feel very hungry, inhaling the glue fumes takes away the pain of hunger. It helps me sleep,” he said.
A container of Dandy glue costs only Tk 20 to Tk 30. Four or five children often buy one together, pour it into a plastic bag, and inhale it throughout the day.
Children like Iman turn to the substance to escape severe hunger and loneliness, unaware of the dangers it poses.
According to the latest reports by UNICEF and the government, Bangladesh is home to more than 3.4 million street children. A large portion of them live in the capital.
The Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) and several anti-drug organizations estimate that Dhaka alone has between 400,000 and 500,000 street children.
Various studies show that around 80% to 85% of these children are addicted to some form of substance. About half of them primarily use Dandy glue.
The substance remains popular because it is inexpensive, easy to conceal from law enforcement, and readily available at hardware stores and cobbler shops.
The studies also found that 44% of street children smoke cigarettes, 28% use different types of tablets, 19% use heroin, and 8% inject drugs.
According to BSAF, at least 229 locations across Dhaka serve as hotspots where children between the ages of 9 and 18 use drugs.
Research by icddr,b and Dhaka Ahsania Mission found that inhalant abuse causes long-term brain damage among street children.
Many of them spend a significant portion of the money they earn from collecting waste paper or doing odd jobs on Dandy glue rather than food. As a result, they gradually become isolated from family, education, and normal social life.
Fourteen-year-old Sajib is one such example. Living in the Gulistan area, he has become involved in various crimes after developing an addiction to Dandy glue.
Speaking to Agamir Somoy, Sajib said he initially turned to petty theft and pickpocketing to finance his addiction.
“After using Dandy, I lose control of myself,” he said.
He added that some local drug dealers and criminal groups now use children like him to carry drugs and commit robberies in exchange for small amounts of money or glue.
Experts say Sajib's story illustrates how glue addiction can push a child toward long-term criminal activity.
Dr. Towhidul Haque, a researcher on society and crime and a professor at the University of Dhaka, said children who grow up in poverty, neglect, and deprivation and become addicted to drugs often struggle to return to a normal life.
“Such children face a higher risk of becoming involved in serious crimes later in life, posing a long-term threat to society and the state. Law enforcement alone is not enough. Rehabilitation, education, psychological support, and social protection are essential to reintegrate them into mainstream society,” he said.
Mohammad Jahangir, officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station, said legal limitations restrict punitive measures against young children.
“Alongside the police, NGOs and social welfare organizations need to take coordinated initiatives to bring these children back into mainstream society through rehabilitation and counseling,” he told Agamir Somoy.
Prof. Dr. Salahuddin Kausar Biplob warned about the severe health risks associated with Dandy glue.
“Toluene and other volatile chemicals in the substance damage brain cell function in children. As a result, memory declines, behavior becomes irritable and aggressive, and hallucinations may occur. Long-term use can cause permanent damage to the nervous system, heart, liver, and kidneys. Sudden death is also not uncommon,” he said.
He stressed that authorities should view these children not as criminals but as individuals in need of treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation.
