Children
Bangladeshi children to be raised as global citizens: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government is going to introduce a fresh national curriculum from the next year to raise Bangladeshi children as global citizens.
“We look forward to raising our children as truly global citizens. We are introducing a new national curriculum from next year. It will prepare our students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” she said.
The premier said this in a pre-recorded video containing Bangladesh's national statement, played at the UN Secretary General's Transforming Education Summit on Monday here in New York.
She said the new curriculum will make them aware of becoming climate resilient. It will turn them into the real agents of our Vision- 2041 to become a developed, knowledge-based economy.
In higher education, Sheikh Hasina said, "We are giving priority to research and development. For technical education, we aim to have better industry linkages."
She said Bangladeshi children should have skills that they can use anywhere in the world.
Read: PM Hasina in New York to attend UNGA
"We need international cooperation for mutual recognition of qualifications .We commit to improve access to foundational and lifelong learning,” she said.
To promote multilingual education, the Prime Minister said they have developed text books in the mother tongue of some of our ethnic groups.
"We are offering education in Myanmar curriculum to millions of children forcibly displaced from Rakhine State and sheltered in our land," she said.
For quality and inclusive education, she said her government must invest in regular training and incentives for our teachers.
They are responsible for making classrooms a safe space for our children. We commit to increasing budget allocation for education in proportion to our GDP, she said.
The Prime Minister said the development partners of Bangladesh need to live up to their fiscal commitments for SDG-4.
She thanked the UN Secretary General for organising the Transforming Education Summit saying that this Summit marks a new way of thinking about education with future changes in the world of work.
"The COVID - 19 pandemic caused learning losses all over. In Bangladesh, we have enrolled six hundred thousand out - of - school students into non - formal education since December 2021," she said.
The premier said they have started vaccinating children above 5 years of age. "Nearly 23 million students from primary level to high education get stipends and scholarships," she added.
She said Bangladesh shall continue to provide cash incentives through mobile gateways to hard - pressed families. "Our successful programmes involving stipends, midday meals and free text book distribution will be carried on," she said.
The pandemic also opened up scope for innovations in distance learning, she said, adding that a Blended Education Master Plan has been developed in Bangladesh.
"We shall set up nearly 59,780 multimedia classrooms by next year. We shall put focus on reducing the digital divide among our students," she added.
She said Bangladesh has made significant gains in achieving gender parity in primary and secondary schools.
“We shall continue to work on reducing gender gaps in higher and technical education. Educating our girls has always been one of my key priorities,” said Sheikh Hasina.
Vaccination of children aged 5-11 years from Oct 11 in districts, upazilas
The government will start inoculating children aged between 5 to 11 years against Covid-19 in districts and upazilas from October 11.
A total of 2,26,38,737 children across the country will be brought under the vaccination campaign, said Dr Md Anwar Hossain Howladar, Secretary of Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health.
The date was announced at a national advocacy workshop on vaccinating children in the city Saturday.
From October 11 children at municipality level will be vaccinated and thus children at community level will get the Covid-19 vaccines, said the secretary.
Read: Bangladesh rolls out Covid vaccination programme for kids
With this, those who did not receive vaccine earlier will be brought under the coverage, he added.
“Many countries have no started vaccinating children yet but we have. We sought approval from the World Health Organization earlier and immediately after getting approval we’ve started vaccination campaign,” said the secretary.
5 inc. three children, burnt in gas cylinder accident in Dinajpur
Five individuals, including three minor children, sustained burn injuries in a fire that erupted as gas was being transferred carelessly cylinder from one cylinder to another in Birganj upazila in the district on Saturday.
The injured have been identified as Jahidul Islam, his wife Shahana Begum, their 13-year-old son Joy, three-year-old daughter Lamia and their neighbour’s five-year-old son Saidur Rahman.
Of the injured, the children have been undergoing treatment with back injuries at M Abdur Rahim Medical College in the upazila after taking first-aid from Upazila Health Complex.
Witnesses said a fire broke out suddenly as Jahidul was transferring gas from a bigger cylinder to a smaller one at his house in Centerpara area around 2pm, leaving the five critically injured.
Read: Two die a week after Sylhet gas cylinder blast
Locals first rushed them to the Upazila Health Complex and later three of them shifted to the medical college for better treatment, they said.
However, it could not be ascertained immediately how much percentage of the burn the injured received.
Meraj Ali, station in-charge of Birganj Fire Service and Civil Defense, said transforming gas from one cylinder to another without experience is high risky and the reason for the accident worked this factor.
Subrata Kumar Sarkar, officer-in-charge Birganj police station, said they heard about the matter and were looking into it.
UK to invest 54.5 mn pounds for children in Bangladesh by next 8 years
British Deputy High Commissioner Javed Patel has said ensuring 12 years of quality education for all children is at the centre of the UK’s drive to tackle poverty, promote gender equality, boost economic growth and reduce conflict.
“In Bangladesh, we are investing up to 54.5 million pounds over the next eight years to improve education outcomes for children, particularly girls and marginalised children,” he said.
The Deputy High Commissioner said he wholly believes that sport is integral to a child’s education, and today. “We are proud to stand with the girls’ football team that will be representing Bangladesh on the international stage.”
He hosted a send-off event for the girls’ football team on Thursday which will shortly represent Bangladesh in the Street Child Football World Cup in Qatar.
The team is comprised of children who were all rescued from life on the streets, and now live at the LEEDO (Local Education and Economic Development Organisation) Peace Home in Dhaka.
LEEDO is a not-for-profit, voluntary-based development organisation founded in 2000. Through the provision of education, shelters, and lifestyle support, LEEDO aims to protect vulnerable street children and help them return to the mainstream community.
Read: UK keen to invest in Bangladesh’s higher education sector
During the event, the young guests shared stories of their time living on the street, and appealed to guests to help improve the life chances of other less fortunate children.
They were excited about the opportunity to meet two players from the Bangladesh U-19 national football team, Aklima Khatun and Halima Akhther, and talk to the professional players about their upcoming big game.
They also showed off their footballing skills, and challenged the British Deputy High Commissioner to a ‘keepy-uppy’ contest!
Kazi Nabil Ahmed MP, Vice President of the Bangladesh Football Federation, and Abu Nayeem, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Football Federation, were also present at the event.
Forhad Hossain, Executive Director of LEEDO said they should all raise their voices together to protect the most vulnerable children from the dangers of the streets so that they can create a better Bangladesh.
According to the UNCRC all children have the right to survive with dignity. “I want to thank the British High Commission for organising this event with LEEDO,” he said.
Fakhrul breaks down witnessing the cries of missing BNP leaders' children
BNP secretary general of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir broke down in tears again on Tuesday, as he witnessed the crying children of the victims of enforced disappearance mostly belonging to the party at a human chain programme in the city.
Mirza Fakhrul could no longer keep his emotions in check when missing Bansghal thana unit Chhatra Dal leader Sohail's little daughter Safa and Paltan thana Chhatra Dal unit leader Parvez Raza’s daughter Hridi were narrating their pain.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Family members, including kids, of many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, also spoke at the programme.
They narrated the ordeals and mental trauma they are going through losing their near and dear ones and called upon the government to take steps for bringing the missing people back to their families.
Read: Fakhrul calls for ‘unbreakable’ unity to restore democracy
In a tearful voice, Safa said, “They (law enforcers) have taken away my father. I have never seen my father. I wish to see my father but I can't see him.”
She continued, "When I go to school, my friends come with their fathers. They ask me why my father does not come. I can't give them any reply. Please, return my father. I want to see my father."
Hridi said she has long been waiting to see her father. At one stage she directly addressed whoever Parvez Raza's captors might be and insisted: "Give me back my papa, please give me back my papa."
Screaming uncontrollably, Hridi said, "I want to hang out with my Papa, but I can’t do this. I feel pain as I can’t see him. Please, return my papa. No one tells me when my papa will come."
Fakhrul could not hold back his tears during the speeches of Safa and Hridi. It was seen that he took out a handkerchief from his pocket repeatedly to wipe his tears.
Tears were seen rolling down the cheeks of many other BNP leaders and activists as the two kids were screaming to get their missing fathers back.
Apart from Hridi and Safa, missing Saifur Rahman Sajib's father Shafikur Rahman, Salim Reza Pintu's sister Nadi, Sajedul Islam Samun's sister Sanjida Islam Tuli also spoke at the programme describing their sorrows and pains.
Over a hundred family members of the enforced disappearance victims participated in the programme carrying photos of their loved ones.
Several thousand BNP leaders and activists stood in a line on one side of the road from Fakirapool Intersection to the Nightingale Crossing, protesting the incidents of enforced disappearance.
They also carried various placards demanding an end to disappearances, extrajudicial killings and political persecution.
In the programme, BNP workers also staged enactments of scenes showing how state agencies execute enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Bangladesh rolls out Covid vaccination programme for kids
Bangladesh on Thursday rolled out a full-fledged Covid-19 vaccination programme for children aged between 5 and 11 years in city corporation areas across the country.
This vaccination programme will continue for the next 14 days, from 9am to 3pm daily.
The government has set a target to vaccinate 2.20 crore children aged between 5 and 11 years (mostly primary school students) under this programme.
The vaccination programme was officially inaugurated at Nilkhet Government Primary School in the capital around 9am, in the presence of State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain.
The Pfizer vaccine for children is being administered in 186 centres across 12 city corporations, the State Minister said.
Read:Children aged 5-11 to get Covid jabs at schools: Minister
In Dhaka, children will be vaccinated at 21 centres in two city corporation areas.
This vaccination drive will be carried out soon at school and community levels of districts, upazilas and municipalities, said the State Minister.
At the same time, street urchins or children who are school dropouts will also be vaccinated under this programme, he added.
Street children can get the jab through direct spot registration from booths at ward levels and various schools. Students can get the jab by showing their vaccination cards through online registration.
Red Crescent and BRAC volunteers are working in this programme.
The country received about 30 lakh doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children through the COVAX facility. The vaccine has been approved by the Directorate General of Drug Administration.
On August 11, Bangladesh started administering Covid-19 jabs to children aged between 5 and 11 years on an experimental basis.
Two children drown in Ctg pond
Two minor girls drowned in a pond near their home in Barahatia Union of Lohagara Upazila in Chattogram on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Tasfia Tabassum Raisa,8, daughter of Abu Taher of Maizpara area of the union and Fatema Jannat Sumaiya, 9, daughter of Monir Uddin in the same area. Both were the students of class III of Barahatia Maizpara Noorani Academy.
Bijay Barua, chairman of Barahatia Union Parishad said that Raisa and Sumaiya were playing near the pond adjacent to their house and slipped into the pond at one stage.
Later, locals found their bodies floating and took them to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
Read: 2 children drown in Naogaon pond
Children aged 5-11 to get Covid jabs at schools: Minister
Children aged between 5 and 11 years (primary school students) will be vaccinated against Covid-19 at their respective educational institutions, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
"This vaccination program for children will be conducted in the city corporation areas. We will vaccinate the children at schools there," he told reporters after an event marking National Mourning Day at National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali of the capital.
The minister said there are 2.20 crore children aged between 5 and 11 years. And all children including those who are homeless or out-of-school will be vaccinated.
The registration process is underway but those concerned have has been asked to complete soon. The Primary and Mass Education Ministry is working on these issues, he added.
The minister said steps will be taken after the ministry informs how many centers will be required for this vaccination programme.
Read: Children aged 5-11 get Covid jabs on trial basis
"All our doctors and nurses are now enough experienced and well trained. We did not face any untoward situation even in administering 30 crore vaccine doses. We are more careful about the children."
On August 11, Bangladesh started administering Covid-19 vaccine to children aged between 5-11 years on an experimental basis.
The full-fledged vaccination programme for children will start from August 25, said the Health Minister.
“We have already received about 30 lakh doses of vaccine. The US government has assured us to provide the rest of the vaccine through the COVAX facility,” he added.
The received vaccines will be administered among the children in a two months gap.
The Pfizer vaccine is specially developed for the children which was also approved by the Directorate General of Drug Administration, he added.
The United States recently donated over three million pediatric doses of Pfizer vaccines and committed to donating a total of over 40 million (4 crore) pediatric doses.
Toddler drowns in Kurigram pond
A one-and-a-half-year-old drowned in a pond near his house while playing there in Kurigram's Rowmari upazila Friday.
The deceased was identified as Abu Horayra, son of Samaun Islam of Uttarpara village of Sadar union.
"Horayra was playing in the yard of his house at 10am. As the family members were not around, he fell into the pond and drowned," Samaun said.
"His family members started looking for him as he was not seen anywhere. At one stage, Horayra's body was found floating on the pond near his house," Rup Kumar Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Roumari Police Station, said.
Read: 2 children drown in Naogaon pond
Children aged 5-11 to get Covid-19 jabs on trial basis on August 11
Children aged between 5-11 will get vaccine against Covid-19 on experimental basis on August 11, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday.
The full-fledged vaccination programme for children will start from August 26, he said while talking to reporters after a programme marking the World Breastfeeding Week-2022 at National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) in the city.
“Fifteen lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine have arrived on Sunday and we have taken all preparation to bring the children under vaccination programme,” he said.
Read: Covid-19 vaccine consignment for kids arrive in Dhaka
Currently, the health workers are administering first, second doses and booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine but people will not be able to get second doses after some days as stock of vaccines will expire soon, he said.
He also urged people to take Covid-19 jabs as soon as possible.
Referring to the monkey pox virus, Zahid said already the virus has spread to many countries including those in America and Europe but there is nothing to be worried about as it has not been declared as pandemic.
About the Breastfeeding Week, the minister said 60-70% children are now under breast feeding and still 40% deliveries take place at home which should be come down.