Violence Against Children: 1,484 fell victim in last 8 months

Some 1,484 children suffered various forms of violence in the last eight months across the country, said Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), a platform campaigning for child rights.

Besides, 785 others drowned and died on the roads during the same period.

Citing the report of BSAF, speakers at a discussion yesterday demanded formation of “Department of Children” immediately under the ministry of women and children affairs to look after children affairs.

They were speaking at a views-exchange meeting on “The current child rights situation and the way forward” at a conference hall in the parliament.

Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh, a platform of NGOs,jointly organised the discussion.

The report of BSAF presented at the meeting said 697 children were raped, 104 were victims of attempted rape, 161 were sexually harassed, 92 physically assaulted, 145 kidnapped, and 285 murdered from January to August this year.

Apart from this, 390 children were killed in road accidents and 395 others drowned. Some 133 died by suicide and 104 others went missing, said the report.

Addressing the event as the chief guest, Deputy Speaker of parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah said the process for forming a separate department for children has already started.

“Unfortunately, we failed to properly use the budgetary allocation given to different ministries to look after the children affairs. So, a strict monitoring is needed to deal with the issue and that is why a separate department is necessary,” he said.

Calling Father of the Nation Bangabandhu a children-friendly leader, he said a vested quarter had killed him to halt the country’s development.

“A renaissance is required to stop violence against children and I think Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can lead such a movement in Bangladesh,” he said, urging all to make her hands stronger.

The deputy speaker added that the government has taken various measures to free the country from child labour within 2025.

In his speech, Shamsul Haque Tuku, president of the caucus, urged representatives of non-government organisations to spread their activities to the remote parts of the country in collaboration with government’s institutions. 

“You can celebrate the 100th birthday of Bangabandhu in 2020 by taking year-long programmes to protect child rights,” he said.

Noted human rights activist Aroma Dutta, also a lawmaker, said punishment was ensured in only 3 percent of 5,000 cases filed between 2002 and 2016 over torturing children. “It is shameful for the nation.”

She urged all to take up awareness programmes for children issues.

Among others, representatives of 10 NGOs also spoke on the occasion.