Child Labour Increasing Alarmingly in Meherpur (Bangladesh)

Many non-government organizations have been working in Meherpur district to restore child rights but actual pictures of child laborers are increasing here alarmingly to the declaration of the world organizations regarding ‘Child Rights’.

There is an office  of District Children Affairs at Meherpur but having no any information regarding children of the district. They are drawing salary virtually having no works except to attend different kinds of meetings are held at Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

Non-governmental organizations claim that they have been working regarding child rights but in fact their activities are limited in discussion meeting and taking photographs to attain the gratification of the donor agencies, it is alleged. It goes without saying that there is no monitoring from the government side because the officers especially the competent authorities are seen happy getting invitation as the chief guest in their discussion meetings.

A bulky portion of minor children under 14 years of  age are engaged in different risky and hard  jobs due to poverty in the district.  They supplement their parents by selling their physical labors. It goes without saying that the child labor cost is comparatively less than that of a matured labour. Lack of social awareness and family feud are also the causes behind it, Maynul Alam, Executive Director, Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha (SSUS) a voluntary non-government organization said.

Talking to henatimes.com he added   as the Meherpur district of Bangladesh is a small frontier district, the smugglers can easily purchase the child laborers to carry their contrabands. He suggested to identify these boys and girls  to impart vocational training for their livelihood and also to arrange their education.

Finding no other alternatives, boys engage themselves in different criminal activities and become drug addicts while girls are either engaged in antisocial activities or take shelter somehow in brothels.

During visit in  upzilas of the  district it was found a lot of children to the ages group of 10 to 12 are doing various works like picking of waste paper, van-pullers,  hotel boy, helper in welding shops, buses, tempos,  mills and other hazardous works.

It is observed that the street urchins have no particular place to live. They are seen  lying on roadsides,  bus terminal and busy at market places for their livelihood. They used to collect thrown away materials from the houses, hotels, fish and vegetable markets and even dumping places. They take these things to buyers who are locally  known as ‘bhangri’ (breakers) and get  some money for their livelihood and to help their families.

Some teenaged boys are seen plying rickshaws or rickshaw-vans, engaged as caller boy for tempos, helper to the automobile and welding workshops. They have to sell their labor for a nominal remuneration from dawn to dusk even some time midnight having no service rules.

It may be cited here that every year different organizations observe the “World Children Day” with high enthusiasm in a befitting manner where the speakers underscore the importance on implementation of United Nations Charter of Magna Charta for child rights. After that no organization is found here to come forward with effective steps for the welfare and happiness of these ill-fated children of the society.