Children brief Dhaka DC over their problems

A group of children have met the deputy commissioner of Dhaka, Md Shahidul Islam, and disclosed the problems they have been facing, thanks to an initiative by Save the Children.

During the meeting at the DC office on Sunday, the children informed the DC about the overall situation of children, health and education, protection, family and social rights, in addition to difficulties they are facing during the pandemic period. They also pointed out the ways to overcome problems, said a press release.  

Some 20 children from the Children's Forum of 'Shishuder Jonno' living in Rayerbazar and Chand Udyan areas participated in the meeting. The meeting was organized under the auspices of Save the Children in Bangladesh's project 'Shishuder Jonno' (SJ) and Manabik Shahajya Shangstha (MSS).

The children said that they can return to school if adequate measures are taken to ensure all safety.

Classes on modern devices using the Internet are expensive enough to carry for disadvantaged children, even for many schools, which will increase the number of children dropping out of school, they noted.

The issue of auto pass in HSC also comes up while discussing about education. The children mentioned that the merit of the students was not properly assessed as a result of giving auto pass. They fear that child marriage has also increased in this pandemic situation.

They drew attention of the deputy commissioner to deliberate participation of children in drag trafficking in the Chand Udyan area of Rayer Bazar.

The children urged the deputy commissioner to take effective step in this regard.

Besides, the disclosed that parents are losing their jobs due to the pandemic and sending their children to work, which has resulted in an increase in child labor.

According to them, more than 17 child marriages have taken place in the area during Civid-19, out of which 7 have been foiled through children's forums.

They recommended that government hotlines be made stronger and more effective.

Apart from these, most of the playgrounds in the capital are used for construction work and even the playgrounds which are empty are not suitable for playing most of the time. The children requested the DC to pay special attention to the issue.

DC Md Shahidul Islam said the discussions with the children were very fruitful in overcoming and resolving the problems that have arisen during the pandemic.

He vowed to provide assistance to disadvantaged children. He thinks it is important to convey the current reality to other quarters of the government for which advocacy has to be done, lobbyists have to be appointed.

"I will definitely work to ensure that children's recommendations are included in government policies," he said.

Fatema Johra, deputy director of Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs; Rashida Begum, district children's affairs officer of Shishu Academy; Abu Jafar, from Save the Children; among others, were present during the meeting.