United News of Bangladesh

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal on Thursday said the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and UNICEF will work jointly to ensure the protection of child rights in Bangladesh. “A caucus will be formed comprising the chairpersons of relevant parliamentary standing committees and members of parliament from both the treasury and opposition benches to safeguard children's interests and formulate child-friendly policies,” he said. He made these remarks during a courtesy meeting with a UNICEF delegation led by its Social Policy Manager Hasina Begum at his office at Jatiya Sangsad bhaban. The Deputy Speaker expressed optimism that this caucus would play a pivotal role in parliamentary discussions regarding child rights and in securing increased budget allocations for the sector. Barrister Kayser Kamal highlighted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is highly sensitive to child rights issues. “The Prime Minister has already issued necessary directives to allow children the opportunity to observe parliamentary sessions from the galleries,” he noted. The UNICEF delegation informed the Deputy Speaker that they have successfully advocated for the inclusion of 10 priority rights for children—including health, education, and protection—in the election manifestos of various political parties. They also lauded the government’s timely measures in addressing the ongoing measles situation. During the meeting, both sides discussed a wide range of issues, including child-friendly policy formulation, increased social protection, budgetary enhancements, and bilateral cooperation.  

The government of Bangladesh has said as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child it would not tolerate any act of abusing children, noting that Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams was arrested because of “child abuse and exploitation”. "The government would also not accept any such effort aimed at maligning the Independence Day of the nation," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today (April 01, 2023). The government of Bangladesh is committed to uphold the freedom of expression for all its citizens and the media, the foreign ministry said. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams denied bail, sent to jail However, it said, creating social unrest by undertaking such “fraudulent acts” is contrary to the spirit of honest journalism. The ministry said it has been brought to the notice of the government that some international media and institutions are claiming that a journalist in Bangladesh, named Shamsuzzaman, has been arrested as he wrote about the “cost of living in Bangladesh”. "This information is totally false and fabricated. This journalist was arrested because of ‘child abuse’ and ‘child exploitation," the foreign ministry said. Many media outlets have been continuously reporting on the cost of living in Bangladesh since the beginning of the Ukraine war which has caused inflation around the world. Read More: Prothom Alo journalist Shams taken to court "No one has been arrested due to such reporting. The said journalist was arrested because of child abuse and child exploitation, as he offered ten taka to a 9-year-old boy and then expressed his own views in the name of that child," the ministry said. "That is surely an act of child abuse and exploitation. Secondly, he tried to undermine the independence of Bangladesh on the great Independence Day. These acts are surely tantamount to punishable crimes," the foreign ministry said. Read More: Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman sued under DSA

An opposition MP says he will place issues involving child rights before Parliament more whenever he gets scope. Speaking at a virtual Question & Answer session --Listen to Our Words-- Jatiya Party MP Ahsan Adelur Rahman made the commitment on Friday night. Ahsan Adelur joined the session as the chief guest while Julhas Alam, Dhaka Bureau Chief of the New York-based global news agency Associated Press (AP), attended the session as the special guest. The ‘Child Message’—a platform to deal with child rights issues—organised the event where the students of Narayanganj District Girls School took part. Also Read: Strengthen efforts to ensure protection, reparations for sale, sexual exploitation of children: UN expert Both Ahsan Adelur and Julhas Alam agreed that children’s voices should be heard more through various platforms to ensure a better Bangladesh by making them good citizens of the country.   One of the children asked the lawmaker why Bangladeshis will have to bear an additional amount of money to perform Hajj this year. The MP narrated the scenario and said he will surely table the issue before the House. Another student asked what should be done about the risky buildings in the capital city. In reply Ahsan Adelur said that the issue is a serious concern for the country. Also Read: Multiple crises set to plunge more children into poverty, ILO and UNICEF report warns He said it is a very difficult task to reconstruct the city by demolishing so many risky buildings, but authorities must take the issue very seriously. He admitted that there is lack of monitoring while corruption in allowing unauthorised buildings has been a major concern. Ahsan Adelur, an MP from Nilphamari-4 constituency, promised to raise the issue before the House and talk to the Prime Minister. Asked how much the Bangladeshi political parties are concerned about child rights, AP Bureau Chief Julhas Alam said the situation is changing gradually and the political leaders are increasingly being consulted by various child rights groups, UNICEF or international NGOs like Save the Children and others. “This is a good sign. But we all need to do more to ensure that the children’s voices are heard more. Media outlets have also an important role to play,” he said adding that many things related to coverage and portrayal of child rights issues in media have improved significantly. He appreciated Ahsan Adelur MP that he spared his time to listen to the children and their voices. Julhas also said that there are still many issues to fight against child abuse, ensure their safety and their rights to get better education and health facilities. The Child Message’s Executive Director Arif Rahman Shibly said they will continue to work to execute the ‘United Nations Convention on Child Rights (Section 13)’. According to a press release by the Child Message, a total of 33 MPs have so far faced children and listened to their words about their rights. Narayanganj School Principal Masuda Akhtar also took part in the discussion.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government is careful so that prompt action can be taken against any kind of child oppression in the country.