Staff Correspondent

Despite the legal prohibition of child labour, over 3.5 million children in Bangladesh are engaged in various forms of labour. Among them, around 10.68 lakh are involved in hazardous work.

This information was revealed during a dialogue titled “Media's Role in Increasing Mass Awareness to Eradicate Child Labour: Reality and Expectations,” held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday.

Speakers at the dialogue highlighted the exploitation, oppression, and violence faced by child labourers. Many children endure severe torture and accidents, with some losing their lives prematurely. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy working environments leaves numerous children with chronic illnesses and reduced physical capabilities at a young age.

The speakers stressed that the media has a significant role to play in raising public awareness, influencing attitudes, and motivating society to combat child labour.

Government and non-government representatives urged the authorities to reform existing laws and policies to eliminate child labour. They emphasized that the interim government, formed following the recent mass uprising, must prioritize child labour issues in its reform agenda. The media, they noted, can draw the government's attention to this pressing concern.

The dialogue was organized by Action for Social Development (ASD), a non-governmental organization. Shamsunnahar Jolly, Vice Chairperson of ASD's Executive Committee, presided over the event. Mostafa Kamal Majumder, former editor of The New Nation, attended as the chief guest. Other notable participants included Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) trainer Zilhaj Uddin Nipun, Halima Begum from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of Dhaka Reporters Unity, National Press Club Management Committee Member Shahnaz Poli, senior journalists Ashish Kumar Dey and Sharful Alam, and ASD Project Manager UKM Farhana Sultana.

In the keynote address, ASD Coordinator Syed Shahinur Rahman emphasized the importance of media in combating child labour. He recommended that media outlets regularly broadcast programs on child rights and child labour and encourage child journalism to give children a platform to express their views.

He suggested forming dedicated media cells for covering child rights issues, providing relevant training, and reporting violations of child rights and laws. Highlighting examples of compliance with child labour laws could also serve as positive reinforcement, he added.

The speakers reminded the audience that Bangladesh, as a signatory to the International Child Rights Charter and Conventions, is committed to protecting children's rights. The government has also set a goal to eliminate child labour by 2025 in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Achieving this requires reforming and effectively implementing existing laws and policies, they said, while underlining the critical need for public awareness.

They called on government agencies and media organizations to undertake coordinated and effective initiatives to address this issue comprehensively.