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The murky side of DU Pichchis

CITY CORRESPONDENT
They are an essential part of Dhaka University (DU) life -- the Pichchis as they are known on the campus -from serving students tea at stalls to cooking food at halls. Yet they are the most neglected species on the campus, facing injustice and a dark future.
These poor kids come to the campus with the hope of better life but only find a harsh working environment at different canteens and shops.
Yusuf, a 14-year-old, came to Suryasen Hall to support his parents. He has been working at a makeshift shop for the last six years and find little extra income to help his family.
"At the beginning, I did not get wages, but a roof for the night and food. I have been getting Tk 600 a month since last year," said Yusuf. "I can give only Tk 500 or Tk 600 to my parents when I visit them twice a year."
Children like Yusuf find little time to rest and often carry on with treatment for illness.
"I don't like students calling me pichchi. But I can't help it," said Polash, a canteen boy working at the dormitories of the science faculty.
Some of these boys are often used by student leaders and criminals in political violence and toll collection, to carry illegal arms and peddle drugs. Ultimately, they turn into criminals too, often dubbed as 'armed cadres' of student organisations.
Pichchi Hannan, who was killed in crossfire, also worked at
Zahurul Haque Hall as a canteen boy in his early life and slowly worked his way up to the underworld. Another notorious criminal Idul, now in jail for killing two policemen, and Tokai Mizan, another criminal, are also the products of the same hall. Mizan lost his grip on the campus after being seriously injured in a
shootout with the police.
There are more names to the list of children turned criminals like Ratan, Tami, Babul Talukder, Nannu Chairman, Iqbal Hossain Apu and Kala Sentu, all of who started life as DU canteen boys.
Some pichchis of Jasimuddin Hall started selling Phensidyl, a banned cough syrup used as a drug,
on the campus under the protection of an influential student leader two years ago. Later, it stopped in the face of students' protest.
Pichchis, who are not involved in crimes, languish in poverty and are often physically assaulted for small wrongdoing.
"I do not get regular salary. In
addition students often beat us up if we do something they do not like," said a canteen boy of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall.
Golap, once a canteen boy, became a rickshaw puller. "I think what I am doing now is better than what I did on the campus," he said.