Govt plans night shelters for 4 lakh street children in city

Special Assistant Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek yesterday said the government aims at provide night shelters for around four lakh street children living in the city to ensure minimum safety for them.
Highlighting the plight and insecurity facing the street children, he said these groups are more vulnerable and Bangladesh is yet to establish a comprehensive legal framework for them.
Malek was speaking at a seminar on 'Towards restorative justice for children in conflict with the law: Promoting a diversion strategy in Bangladesh by adopting alternative to deprivation of liberty' jointly organised by social welfare ministry and Unicef in association with Legal Education and Training Institute (LETI) at a city hotel.
The speakers said rehabilitation and reintegration is needed for the children in conflict with the law rather than punishment.
Under no circumstances, a child can be sentenced to death and Bangladesh is obliged to take care of the children in conflict with the law as per the United Nations Child Rights Convention (UNCRC), said Unicef Bangladesh representative Carel de Rooy.
“Children of poor families are more vulnerable and more prone to see their rights denied. They often cannot understand the effect of their action for their immaturity that leads them to commit crimes. So, they should be treated properly instead of giving punishment,” he added.
The speakers said in Bangladesh, the justice system for both children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection are governed by the Children Act, 1974 and the Children Rules, 1976.
However, in recent years, there has been significant impetus for juvenile justice reform. The government has appointed a high-level 'Juvenile Justice Task Force' and has identified priority areas for action. A new 'National Policy on Models of Care and Protection for Children in Contact with the Law' has been drafted to address both children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection, they added.
Barrister M Amir-ul Islam, chairman of LETI, presided over the programme, while Justice Imman Ali presented a keynote paper.
Social Welfare Secretary Dewan Zakir Hussain also spoke.