Turned away from schools due to poverty, hundreds of children are engaged in hazardous jobsat dried fish processing units in Cox’s Bazar. If given opportunity, these children would one day become educated and turn as human resources.
Speakers made the observations at a programme titled 'Community Fair to Raise Awareness on Child Labor in Dried FishSector'.
Local Municipal Councilor Akhter Kamal and academics, lawyers, representatives from dried fish processing units and various NGO representatives spoke at the day-long fair held at the premises of Coastal Adarsh Shiksha Niketan in Samiti Para, Cox's Bazar Thursday afternoon. Fifty awareness-raising stalls installed at the fair venue were eye-catching.
The fair was jointly organized by BCCP, Ipsa, Eklab, Incidin Bangladesh and Suite - the partners of Climb project of Winrock International.
Ward councilor Akhter Kamal said hundreds of children in the area have turned away from school due to poverty and they are working in hazardous work. They will become a burden to the society.
BCCP director and chief executive officer Mohammad Shahjahan said he was hurt when he visited Nazirartechshishupalli. There are many children who left schools and are engaged in hazardous work. He urged the authorities concerned to take initiative to help these children return to schools.
AHM Zaman Khan, project director of Climb project, said a significant number of children in dried fish sector are engaged in hazardousjob. They can be a burden o the nation. If they are given chance to get educated, they would turn as skilled manpower.
He said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken many initiatives to eliminate child labor and has enacted many laws. He called upon teachers, parents and people’s representatives to discourage child labor in all sectors.
SakiaKauser Saki said hundreds of children work under sun. They can't go to school. He appealed to the people's representatives, imams, guardians and teachers to create an environment where children can get education.
Shifa, a Class V student, said that she works in the driedfish unit due to poverty. So she can't go to school. She wants to study and become a lawyer if given the opportunity.
Another child, Abdul Hakim, said he worked in the dried fish unit to helphis parents. Sohe can't go to school. He will go to school if he gets a chance and become a doctor.
