They are forced to carry drugs and firearms and engaged in other inhuman activities due to poverty.

The function was organised for distribution of clothes among the street children under the Appropriate Resources for Improving Street Children's Environment (ARISE), a project of social welfare department of the government, at Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) auditorium yesterday.

The function was addressed by Central Project Director Muhammad Iqbal, Divisional Coordinator Abdus Sobhan, UNDP Programme Officers Martina Loker and Karina Liza and RU teacher Nazrul Islam while Rajshahi social welfare department Deputy Director Aftab Uddin Sheikh was in the chair.

The speakers said more than one lakh street children of the country are living in a vulnerable condition and their rights are not being protected properly.

They apprehended that if the rights of ill-fated street children are not protected, the children of normal environment cannot be safe.

The UNDP representatives said they have undertaken a long-term programme in Bangladesh to rehabilitate the street children by establishing their rights in the society like other children.

Inspired by the Nobel winning organisation Grameen bank, they also agreed to offer micro-credit for self-reliance of the street children.

Later, some clothes and sandals were distributed among 60 street children who are being rehabilitated by different NGOs and government.