World Day against Child Labour observed

Aparajeyo Bangladesh, a child rights organisation, brings out a procession from National Museum in the capital on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour yesterday.Photo: STAR

Eliminating child labour in Bangladesh remains a challenge for the fact that families in dire poverty mostly rely on their children for livelihood, said speakers at a programme marking the World Day Against Child Labour yesterday.
Although impositions from the government to disengage children from hazardous jobs have been initiated, the number of working children is increasing, they said.
They made the comments at the inaugural ceremony of Child Labour Documentary Film Festival organised by Development Communication Network (DCN) at Public Library Auditorium in the capital's Shahbag yesterday.
Hundreds of slum children from across the city attended the day-long show of 15 video documentaries on labour issues that was amassed by DCN.
“Continuation of child labour is a social and political failure that does not go in line with the political consciousness conceived during the liberation war that promised everyone their respective rights,” Ain O Salish Kendro Executive Director Sultana Kamal said while addressing the programme as chief guest.
“We failed to provide a sound society where every child could study,” she added.
Eminent filmmaker Catherine Masud also addressed the programme as a special guest, sharing her experience of working on a documentary on child labour.
Different cultural and rights bodies, including Population Services and Training Centres and National Coordination Committee for Workers' Education, also held discussions and cultural programmes in the capital yesterday in observance of World Day Against Child Labour.
Aparajeyo-Bangladesh, an NGO working with disadvantaged children, brought out a colourful procession on the occasion from the city's National Museum to Central Shaheed Minar, followed by a discussion and cultural programme yesterday.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation, Chittagong organised a meeting at Ainjibi Bhaban in Chittagong city yesterday marking the day.
Speakers at the meeting said children are employed at different risky jobs because they can be exploited by paying low wages, forced to work more and tolerate the repression silently without any protest.