Protecting Bangladesh's Future: Prioritizing Child Welfare to Eliminate Labor Exploitation

In a concerted effort to shield Bangladesh's children from the hardships of manual labor and secure their future, the government is urged to prioritize critical 

initiatives. These include bolstering social security provisions, promoting alternative economic opportunities, ensuring universal access to education and 

healthcare, and facilitating micro-financing options for former child laborers. These efforts draw inspiration from the enduring legacy of Bangabandhu 

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman reflects Bangladesh's unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and compassion, ensuring every child's chance to thrive in a 

labor-free environment. 

Delwar Jahid, President of Bangabandhu Research and Development Institute and the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Command Council Canada Unit and a senior faculty member conveyed these sentiments during his inaugural address at a recent virtual seminar organized jointly by the Bangabandhu Research and Development Institute (BRDI) and Step to Humanity Bangladesh in Central Alberta on June 29, 2024.

Keynote speaker Nasima Akhter, former director of the Bangladesh Rural Development Academy and an expert in women's and children's sociology, emphasized the urgent need to redefine childhood in the context of Bangladesh. She highlighted critical issues such as malnutrition and reproductive health affecting young girls while also stressing the importance of addressing family conflicts that disrupt children's lives.

The seminar featured notable figures such as Dr. Anwar Zahid, former registrar of Comilla Britannia University and ex-director of the Bangladesh Rural. 

Development Academy; Dr. Kamrul Hasan, son of the martyred intellectual Sadiq and former academy director; Dr. Ashraful Arif, Assistant Professor at Exim 

Bank Agricultural University Bangladesh; Khairul Ahsan Manik, Vice President of Step to Humanity Bangladesh and Senior Journalist at UNB; Shirin Ferdosi, 

Senior Teacher; Kora Hasan Ivana, Child Officer; Shamsul Habib, Journalist; and Moshiur Rahman, Vice President of the Bangabandhu Research and Development Institute, present Syfur Hasan, ehtesham Iqbal, and Ashrar Jahid.

Dr. Anwar Zahid provided insights into Bangladesh's National Child Policy of 1994, the National Action Plan of 2005, and the UN Convention on the Rights of 

the Child, adopted in 2006. Dr. Kamrul Hasan explored the historical context of post-war Bangladesh, highlighting its ongoing struggles with child labor and 

its alignment with capitalist exploitation.

Speakers collectively underscored the economic dynamics influencing child labor, with poverty identified as a central root cause. The seminar served as a 

pivotal platform for robust dialogue on safeguarding Bangladesh's children from labor exploitation, reaffirming the nation's dedication to building an 

equitable and prosperous society in line with the principles of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.