Integrated effort key to ending child labour and protecting consumers: CAB president

An integrated, collective approach is essential to eliminate child labour and protect consumer rights, said AHM Shafiquzzaman, former labour secretary and president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), during a visit to the head office of Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) in Chattogram today (27 September).

"Both child labour and consumer rights are burning issues in Bangladesh," Shafiquzzaman said at the event.

"YPSA has long been working to rehabilitate children involved in hazardous labour and to address other social concerns. If CAB and other development organisations join hands, these efforts can become stronger and more effective," he added.

The visit was part of CAB's collaboration with YPSA to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in partnership with the Bangladesh government.

YPSA, a Chattogram-based development organisation, implements programmes aimed at sustainable development and the eradication of hazardous child labour.

At the programme, YPSA's advocacy focal person Md Ali Shahin presented an overview of child labour in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, along with YPSA's ongoing projects to remove children from risky workplaces and enrol them in schools.

Praising YPSA's initiatives, Shafiquzzaman said the organisation's work is a significant step towards achieving the SDGs.

"Programmes like these are critical for driving the SDG process forward," he noted.

The event was attended by CAB Chattogram President M Nazim Uddin; YPSA directors Palash Kumar Chowdhury and Md Shahidul Islam; Aparajeyo Bangladesh representative Jinnat Ara; Chattogram Electronics Owners Association General Secretary Nazrul Islam; as well as NGO representatives, parents and children who have left hazardous jobs to return to school.