Mahbubul Khalid’s song urges to assist street children (video)

The National Street Children Day is being observed today in Bangladesh. The day is observed every year on October 2 to ensure safety, human and basic rights of the homeless children live in streets.

Street children are the young persons for whom the streets have become their habitual abode and source of livelihood. They are inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible adults. Street children sometimes are called 'Tokai', meaning collector. It usually refers to poor children who collect left out things from streets, dustbins, houses and other public places for recycling.

A recent report says, there are 80 lakh street children in Bangladesh among whom 75 percent live in Dhaka, the capital city. More than 10 lakh street children are in serious health risks as they are suffering from malnutrition, sexual diseases and addicted to drugs. According to Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar (Child Rights) Forum, an apex body of NGOs working for promoting and protecting child rights in the country, 85 percent of the street children take drugs.

Street children are generally poorly treated by other people. The government and many NGOs are working for the betterment of street children. However, more effective initiatives need to ensure proper nutrition, shelter, education and better future for street children.

Noted Bangladeshi poet, lyricist and composer Mahbubul Khalid, who is well known for his writings for human rights, has penned a song that urges all to stand beside street children and assist them to get a better future. Late composer Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul tuned the song titled ‘Pathokoli'. Young and talented singer Saran rendered her voices to the song.

A music video of the song has been published ahead of the National Street Children Day on the lyricist YouTube channel 'Khalid Sangeet'. The song has also been posted on Mahbubul Khalid’s musical website ‘khalidsangeet.com’.

The song highlights the pathetic lives of street children and calls upon all to help them.

Mentionable, poet, lyricist and composer Mahbubul Khalid has penned and tuned a vast number of songs including various days or observance, popular and renowned personalities, social awareness etc. His recent song on Covid-19 pandemic titled ' Corona Ke Voy Koro Na' has been widely appreciated and created awareness on the deadly virus.