Observing World Day against Child Labor, BMSF, Bangladesh

Discussion Meeting, Venue: Prodipan Liaison Office, Lalmatia, Dhaka, Date: 11 June, 2009
Organized by: National Child Labor Watch Forum & Global March against Child Labor, Supported by: Prodipan

Chair: Mr. Khairuaman Kamal, President, National Child Labor Watch Forum & Executive Director, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum.

Mr. Khairuzzaman Kamal explain in Inauguration speech about Global March movement’s background and its international, regional and national activities. Mr. Kamal read the massage of Global march Chairperson Kailash Satyarthi. He said Educate the Girl to Educate the World End Child Labor are the theme of the day of 12 June 2009: World Day Against Child Labor. He explains the background of the declaration of World Day Against Child Labors and greeting from National Child Labor Watch Forum for participation of this program to all the participant.

Mr. Anoweruzaman Ratan, Vice-President, National Child Labor Watch Forum explain this NCLW Forums background and request to Mr. Kailash for approval this committee and its activities through Mr. Kamal. He said Girls Child education important, on the other hand education for disables are more important, because their educational opportunities are in minimum level. Mr. Kamal said this Forum can contact with Global March directly and he will contact with them if Forum member think that. He said when Mr. Kailash will come, NCLW Forum will meet with him formally.

MS Rushni, UDDIPAN said they have different types of child rights base program. They celebrate this day by Club basis discussion meeting, which club formed by children and child labor. Formally or informally labors are discuss with their owner and related people. She said we have formed teacher’s forum, Careful Observation Forum, Reporters Forum etc. Children and guardian are come at club and frankly discuss their problem, reporters are preparing different types of news on children crises. 

Dr. Asma Banu, Executive Director, Shapla Shamaj Unnayan Shangstha (SSUS) said in their different activities, child education in slum area are mentionable. They are patronizing to get admission at Govt. free primary school. After their admission school charged money. As a result children’s educational drop out are continuing. She said social securities ensuring is very much important for girl child and parallels child education are important. She said globally we have to give emphasis in Girls child social security. 

Jamal Uddin, Director (Admin), BASTOB said they are working in 1000 children in Moheskhali, Cox’s Bazar. There they have form a forum for child. There have different types of hazardous work, but there guardian don’t show their interest to repatriate their children.

On the other hand they have send 700 children in school in Chokoria, Cox;s Bazar. Mr. Jamal said they are providing education facilities and training on different trade for child labor in Dhaka. Their entire educational centre they arrange motivational meeting with guardian and child every fortnightly.

Sharmina Kabir Bina, Executive Director, Zhumka Bangladesh said educational expanses become high, so children of hard core farmers are drop out. We have trying different methodology avoid drop out.  

Sultana Razia, Coordinator, LRB Foundation explain her bitter experience. She said her working area is tongibari, bikrampur, munshigong. When potatoes harvest start, children stop school going and its 4 month long. There guardian are not interested to send their child to school. Strongly they disagreed to send school their girl child. Their girl children are extremely maltreated. They think education are not necessary for a woman, make family is necessary most.

Nikhil Bhadra, Director, MHED said we have many law to combat child labor, but implementation situation are near about zero level. Now need to be aware all of us have to do all the people. It’s recognized that National Child Labor Watch Forum now is working for combating hazardous child labor. We have to more active.

Md. Moniruzaman, Campaign Officer, CFCL-P, Prodipan said Prodipan are working in different issues at coastal belt. Prodipans have a combat forced child labor project. They are giving child education in rural areas. Once prodipan thinks and projects goals were only male child will study their school for combat forced child labor in Dubla Islands, now thinks it’s very necessary to educate all the people, so they are giving the entire child, who are related with Dubla Islands child labor. Personally he said education should need to be all, not for a specific gender.

Chair Khairuzaman Kamal wish, all of our initiative will reduce child labor from Bangladesh and declare end of this discussion meeting.