Laila Khondkar

The case for child-friendly infrastructure

Child-friendly infrastructure, design, and services require little to no cost if we only care to look at things through the eyes of a child.

3w ago

Climate change is fuelling child marriage in Bangladesh

Climate change adaptation programmes must support efforts that promote greater access to quality education for adolescent girls.

Save children from the spread of fast food

Research shows that eating fast food has a direct correlation with weight gain

Applying to Harvard University: Tips for a successful application

Having an advanced degree from a reputed university will significantly add to your learning and help you realise your professional dreams and ambitions. So, invest time and energy in the process. 

The statelessness of Rohingya children and the world’s responsibility

States can end the statelessness of Rohingya children if they want to.

Creating an autism-friendly society

“During the lockdown, our teachers offered online classes, but it was extremely challenging for autistic children to understand the instructions through a screen.

Boi Mela is bringing kids to books. We can take this further.

“During school holidays, my coaching centre is closed. I encourage students to read books, play or do things they really enjoy.

Are we listening to our adolescents?

To understand what our adolescents dream about the future, researchers at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the finance ministry conducted an explorative survey between August and September 2021.

June 2, 2021
June 2, 2021

Protecting children online and in the real world

Accor-ding to a report published in March 2021 by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), 30 percent of children have experienced various forms of online harassment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

May 12, 2021
May 12, 2021

Inspiring Bangladeshi girls towards STEM, one role model at a time

Dr Firdausi Qadri of Icddr,b, Dr Salma Sultana of Model Livestock Advance-ment Foundation and Prof Samia Subrina of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)—three Bangladeshi women scientists have recently made us proud.

April 30, 2021
April 30, 2021

Ending corporal punishment of children: Time for action is now!

"Is it OK to hit a child at least once in their lifetime?”—asked a Bangladeshi parent in a post on social media.

April 21, 2021
April 21, 2021

Covid-19 response by women leaders: Will this change the quality of leadership?

Frontline healthcare workers, community mobilisers, caregivers, mothers working from home while supporting children with online classes—women of Bangladesh and all other parts of the world have been facing the Covid-19 pandemic with immense strength, courage, patience, and resilience.

February 16, 2021
February 16, 2021

Listen to children for a child-sensitive society

Today’s children will be known as the “Covid Generation”. Their health, nutrition, education, protection and overall wellbeing will be profoundly influenced by the impacts of the global pandemic.

January 16, 2021
January 16, 2021

Children need less screen time and more active play

In August 2020, a Bangladeshi television channel aired a news story on the excessive use of smartphone use by children under the age of 5, and its negative consequences.

December 23, 2020
December 23, 2020

Breaking the inter-generational cycle of violence

According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and UNICEF, 89 percent of children (1-14 years) in Bangladesh experienced violent discipline in the month before the survey was conducted.

December 1, 2020
December 1, 2020

Let us write new stories

“Girls do not look smart, they are pretty”—said a five-year-old Bangladeshi boy after a comment by the mother that his sister (three years old) was looking “smart”.

October 11, 2020
October 11, 2020

We must do more to end child marriage

From the char of Lalmonirhat to a slum in Khulna, I have met many adolescent girls across Bangladesh who are united in their resolve to continue education, who make extraordinary efforts to go to schools.

August 18, 2020
August 18, 2020

Ending violence against children must be a national priority

According to the Global Status Report on Preventing Violence Against Children 2020, each year, half of the world’s children (approximately one billion) are affected by physical, sexual or psychological violence, suffering injuries, disabilities and death.

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