Treat working children humanely: Mujibul Haque

Lazina Akter, a 13-year-old girl in Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar, has been working as a seamstress for the last four years. Daughter of a widow, she usually embellishes dresses with beads and laces to assist her mother, who works as a domestic help, in bearing the family expenses.

While working, the teenager often hurts herself -- fingers getting pierced by needle and skin peeling off because of glue. She does not mind, however, as whatever little she earns helps her to continue studies.

“My mother already works very hard; she’d have to work even more to pay for my studies if I didn’t work,” Lazina, an eighth grader at a private school in Kamrangirchar, said.

“The work I do is risky, but I have no other option. Children like me wouldn’t have to engage in physical labour had the government provided assistance,” she added. She also demanded that the authorities concerned provide allowance to the families with working children and bear all educational expenses.

Like Lazina, 40 children from different parts of the city yesterday placed their demands at a dialogue between them and relevant government representatives.

Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), a platform of 269 non-government organisations, in association with Islamic Relief Bangladesh organised the event at The Daily Star Centre.

Speaking as the chief guest, Mujibul Haque, former state minister for labour and employment, said the number of child workers was very high in Bangladesh around 20 years ago; it has declined in recent years.

The situation will further improve as the government has taken many initiatives to improve lives of these children, he assured.

“I tried my best to stop child labour when I was in the cabinet, but I couldn’t because many families depend on the children’s income,” said Mujibul, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the labour ministry.

He urged employers not to recruit children under 12 and not to engage them in hazardous work.

“Please treat these children as human beings and ensure their rights -- like salary, rest and recreation,” he said, addressing employers.

Syed Ahmed, additional secretary to the labour ministry; Sushanta Kumar Pramanik, additional secretary to social welfare ministry; and Khawja Shamsul Huda, chairperson of BSAF, also spoke at the programme.