Along the winding green paths of the hills, a group of young boys runs freely — laughing, chatting, and soaking in the beauty around them.
Some perch on tree branches sharing stories, others walk along a stream, while one plays a tune on a handmade bamboo flute. This is not just a moment of leisure — it’s a glimpse into the natural rhythm of life in the hills.
Dakshin Goalia, a remote hilly area of Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazar, recently witnessed such a heartwarming scene.
Wandering through the hills is an integral part of daily life for the teenagers living here.
They explore the green slopes whenever they find time beyond school or household chores with friends. Their bond with nature is deep and instinctive — feeling almost sacred.
Locals fondly call them the “children of the hills.” They have grown up in harmony with their surroundings.
Every tree, rocky trail, and stream is more than a part of the landscape — it is like family.
To them, roaming the hills isn’t just recreation; it is a way of life, a living connection to the world that raised them.
Scenes like this are familiar not only in Dakshin Goalia but across the hilly areas of Cox’s Bazar.
Somewhere, a boy plays his flute beneath the open sky; elsewhere, a group of friends sits under the shade of wild trees, lost in laughter.
These moments capture the essence of innocence, friendship, and unity with nature.
Far from the noise of modern life, the hills nurture a kind of childhood that feels pure and timeless.
The lives of these young boys remind us how joyful and fulfilling life can be when it grows close to nature’s heart.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Hussain Shetu
