When a child’s only home is police station

Local union parishad member Aktaruzzaman found Anis loitering at Panchbari on the night of February 27 and took him to police. His parents flatly refused to take him in when police contacted them. Orphanages too declined to accept him as his parents were alive. The local police contacted various government institutes and NGOs to arrange accommodation for the boy. But after their efforts bore no fruits, officials at Dinajpur police station decided to keep him in their custody considering his safety. Policemen brought him sports equipment, books and stationery. They have been providing him with food and tutoring him. Anis says he does not want to leave the place and that his dream is to become a policeman. During a visit to there, Anis was seen studying and policemen were teaching him whenever they were free. “I lived with my grandmother after my parents forsook me. Poverty was our constant companion. So, I left the house and went to a local market and lived with a security guard there. Then one day I came to Dinajpur,” he said. The police station’s children affairs official Sub-Inspector Nazmul Alam said they were trying their best to send the child to a secure place. He noted that there was no separate allotment for rearing children who were not criminals. “There should be funds for taking care of such children in every district.” Officer-in-Charge AKM Khalequzzaman said they had no choice but to take custody of the child as nobody took him in. “We brought necessary stuff for Anis with our own money. He sleeps in the duty officer’s room.” He said they want Anis to be brought up properly, be it in an adopted family or in government custody. “He may wound up being a criminal if he is left alone. The country will be benefited by such children if we take care of them,” the OC added. Anis said he studied up to grade II when he was with his parents. “After they separated, I barely had anything to eat let alone continuing studies. Here at this police station, I have received everything. Everyone loves me.” His life’s goal now is to become a policeman, like those who have been taking care of him. “I’ll become a policeman when I grow up,” he said in a jovial tone.