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MoU signed to eliminate child labour in dried fish sector


Published : 05 May 2019 08:37 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 03:48 PM

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between two development organizations to eliminate child labour in the dried fish sector, which is mainly located in Cox’s Bazaar. Under the Child Labor Improvements in Bangladesh (CLIMB) project of Winrock International, the MoU was signed between INCIDIN Bangladesh and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) at a ceremony in the capital today (May 5), said a press release on Sunday.

AKM Masud Ali, executive director of INCIDIN, and Abdus Shahid Mahmood, director of BSAF, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides at a restaurant in Dhanmondi in the capital. Under the MoU, INCIDIN, a national development organization working for ensuring rights of children, and BSAF will strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for raising awareness and their participation in advocacy to eliminate child labour and forced child labour in the sector.

The move is aimed at creating an acceptable condition in the dried fish sector, and develop a strengthened network/consultation platform with stakeholders to advocate to policymakers to be supportive to child labour issues in the sector. The ultimate aim of the MoU valid till 2020 is to have an advocacy platform under the line of United Nations 2030 agenda of SDGs.

AHM Zaman Khan, project director of CLIMB project, Winrock, and other officials of the two organizations were present on the occasion. Dried fish sector in Bangladesh practices some of worst forms of child labour. Poverty drives parents to engage their children to increase household incomes, but the children are at risk of health hazard and left out of the education.

Under the CLIMB project, supported by US Department of Labor, necessary supports will be provided to contribute to the government’s efforts to reduce child labour. As part of the initiative, steps will also be taken to observe the World Day against Child Labour, National Children’s Day, and Child Labour Elimination Day in the country.