‘Alleviate poverty to curb child labour’

Although Bangladesh has made significant economic progress in recent times, a large number of children are working due to poverty, rights activists said yesterday.

Citing recent international studies, they said Bangladesh has one of the highest number of child labourers in the world. Most of them face physical, psychological and sexual violence, which is a matter of grave concern.

To overcome the situation, they suggested that the government give high priority to child rights protection, provide financial assistance to families of these children and strictly curb hazardous child labour.

They made the suggestions at a discussion in Cirdap auditorium organised by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) Marking World Day Against Child Labour 2019 (June 12).

ASK executive director Sheepa Hafiza said the government should update its list of 38 hazardous child labours and check those strictly by implementing the labour law.

“We hope that Bangladesh will be free of child labour soon if poverty is reduced and the government and non-government organisations work together,” she said.

Speaking as chief guest, lawmaker and rights activist Aroma Dutta said the number of children involved in hazardous labour has reduced about three times in the last few years, and it happened because of the joint efforts of the government and NGOs.

Dutta, also Executive director of PRIP Trust, assured of discussing the recommendations with the parliamentary caucus.