On the eve of the Eid-ul-Adha, street child Fatema said, "We don't even get to eat rice and lentils, how would we eat beef on Eid?" Her words are not just a reflection of her own life, but echo the reality of millions of street children and hungry people in Bangladesh. While Eid is meant to be a celebration of joy and togetherness, for those living on the streets, it often brings only sorrow, hunger, and anxiety.
According to the Street Situation in Bangladesh (2024), over 3.4 million children live on the streets across the country. In Dhaka alone, 350,000 street children grow up without parental care, affection, or protection (Human Appeal USA). Do the authorities or the privileged classes of our society ever pause to consider the Eid of these children?
Eid is not only about celebration-it is about sacrifice. Sacrificing in the name of Allah includes sharing with the less fortunate. On Eid-ul-Adha, instead of stocking our fridges with meat, we can bring joy to street children and the hungry by giving them a share of that very meat.
The issue goes beyond children. Hunger remains widespread in our country. A joint study by the government and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that nearly 40 million people in Bangladesh faced hunger in 2016. More recently, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Food Security Survey (2024), around 3.4 million people-about 2% of the population-still do not get even one full meal a day. These people, too, long to feel the joy of Eid. But where will that joy come from, when every day is a battle for survival?
It is our responsibility-whether as citizens, as members of the privileged class, or as national leaders-to extend the spirit of Eid to those in need. Let us each do what we can, from wherever we are, to bring smiles to the faces of the hungry, the poor, and the forgotten. Let us embrace street children--- just as we would our own--- not with pity but with warmth, offering food, kindness, and love.
The joy of Eid is not complete until it is shared. These people are our own-our brothers, sisters, and children. Let us ensure this holy Eid is a celebration for everyone.
Mofazzal Hossain (Shanto)
Student, European University of Bangladesh
