Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker and Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights Chair Shamsul Haque Tuku has said it is urgent to form a cross-sector body to protect children's rights – especially that of street children.
He was speaking as chief guest at a seminar, organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Scan Bangladesh, in Dhaka Sunday.
"The child who is born today is the owner of the state and does not belong to the street. With an increase in population, the number of street children is growing. The government is working to develop street children as human resources," Tuku said.
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Dhaka Ahsania Mission Vice-President Professor Dr Kazi Shariful Alam said the main challenge is to bring every child into the mainstream.
Scan Bangladesh General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mukul, who presented the concept of a cross-sector body, said: "The number of street children in the country is about 15 lakh now. And 85 percent of these children are addicted to drugs, and 80 percent are struggling for food while 46 percent are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation."