Government leaders, leading opposition lawmakers, senior officials and representatives of the concerned agencies yesterday called for taking measures to uplift condition of children by abolishing child labour as far as possible, reports BSS.
They said that national consensus existed on such an innocuous issue and it was necessary to spare no efforts through innovative ideas for allout development of the children.
Held under the aegis of the Media Group of Child's Rights, the roundtable was attended by Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr SA Malek, Commerce and Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed. State Minister for Planning Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Prof Zinnatunnessa Talukdar, former Commerce and Industries Minister Sham-sul Islam. MP. former Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker. MP, and former state minister for civil aviation MA Mannan MP.
Presided over by Shafiqul Amin Ferdousi. president of the committee, it was also addressed by its secretary general Kazi Omar Khayyam. Journalist and columnist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury moderated the roundtable.
Finance Secretary Dr Akbar Ali Khan, Primary Education Division Secretary Dr Saddat Hossain, Joint Secretary of Labour Ministry Daliluddin Mondal. ILO Director in Bangladesh Anees Hasnain. UNICEF official Shampe Lgalungpa. AT Siddiqui of "Sishu Adikhar Forum" and Dr Maswdoor Rahman, a child health specialist also attended the roundtable.
Dr Malek said that improvement in the working conditions of children is very important and stressed that be-
havioural pattern towards children and women working in houses and other areas need to be changed.
He said that only, the raising per capita income is not desirable but establishment of social justice and equity are necessary. He called upon the civil societies to come forward to assist the government and im-plementers of programmes de-
signed to promote the interest ofchildren.
Tofail Ahmed said there is no differences among political parties on the promotion of children’s rights and added that a national consensus exists on the issue.
He said it is an age of trade and commerce, and it is necessary to judge things from that perspective.
He said Bangladesh would become a prosperous mid-level income nation by 2020 when the per capita income is expected to go up to $2,000, but reminded that social Justice is Just as important for a happy and healthy society.
The commerce minister said the Seattle conference discussed "labour standard" where there was no unanimity because nothing was accepted which could further marginalise the developing and least developed nations.
Dr Alamgir said children's rights are being seriously taken care of in the fifth five-year plan and added that it is necessary for the state and society to provide the children with nutritious food along with education and medicines.
Shamsul Islam said a solution to the child labour problem has to be found out in’ Bangladesh context and added that the previous BNP government Initiated several measures. especially in the readymade garments sector for the abolition of child labour.
M Mannan said even when child labour exists, technological advancement can be used to reduce their rigours.
He suggested that government andother organisations consider providing some equipment to cany goods instead of forcing children to take them on their heads which is quite dangerous for their health in the long-run.