Buy a chocolate from Akash, keep his hopes alive

Holding a basket in his little arms, a class one student at Jagarani Chakra Foundation, approaches passengers in every bus at Jessore bus terminal to sell chocolates to keep his skin and bone together.

Eleven year-old Akash, came on the streets three years ago to earn a living when his mother fell sick after his father married another woman and deserted them.

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Since then Akash tried several business including peddling various things at the bus terminal. His mother is now sick.

"Taking me to be a street urchin, passers-by and bus passengers did not pay heed to me when I began peddling things of common use. Many of them rebuked me for doing so, suspecting me a truant," said Akash recalling the bitter experience.

Then Akash started memorising Bengali and English alphabets to draw people's attention and to show that he is not like other street urchins or hawkers.

"This yielded results. I can now impress customers to buy chocolate. I work after attending classes from 9:00am to 10:00am and earn Tk 40-45 a day," said Akash.

Akash says he will soon recite Bengali and Engligh poems he is now learning. "This will be more attractive to customers", he hopes.

He says he likes reading books and hopes to continue studies.

He does not know from which disease his mother is suffering from. "I will treat my mother and set up a grocery shop near my house", he says.

"I want to study and help my mother survive. Just buy some chocolate from me," said Akash while talking to this correspondent.