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‘Rangpur to become child-friendly city’


Bangladeshpost
Published : 11 Oct 2019 10:02 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 06:23 AM

Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa has stressed on comprehensive GO-NGO efforts to gradually turn Rangpur into a child-friendly city giving priority to development of children and adolescents, reports BSS.

“To attain the goal, Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) will strengthen activities with different government, non-governmental and donor organisations to build sport grounds and entertainment facilities for children and adolescents,” he said. Mostafa made these observations at an ‘Advocacy consultation on child- friendly city initiatives’ held at conference room of RpCC on Thursday afternoon as chief guest.

RpCC organised the event as part of the UNICEF supported ‘Urban programme’ with participation of children from three schools, citizen groups, journalists, teachers, students, physicians, businesspersons, cultural activists and UNICEF officials. Moderated by Panel Mayor of Rangpur Mahmudur Rahman Titu, Chief of UNICEF Rangpur and Rajshahi Division Najibullah Hameem addressed the occasion as special guests. UNICEF Education Officer Sifat-E-Islam, its Communication for Development Officer Monjur Ahmed and Superintending Engineer of RpCC Amdad Hossain also spoke.

The participating children expressed desire and opinions regarding their education, health care, traffic activities for road safety, easier access to libraries, cleanliness and taking steps to stop smoking, child marriage and child-labour in the city. Najibullah Hameem said the primary responsibility of building a child- friendly city or living system is of the government.

“However, different non-governmental organisations, private sectors, civil society, educational institutions, mass media, children, adolescents and other stakeholders can play vital role to enhance facilities for building a child-friendly city,” he said. UNICEF has started partnership activities with RpCC to improve living standard of children through ensuring their health care, nutrition, education, safety and social security, safe drinking water, hygienic sanitation and cleanliness in the city.

“Successful implementation of the partnership activities would enhance empowerment of children and adolescents as agents of change to build a child- friendly Rangpur city,” he said. He urged the civil society members to play constructive role for bringing more dynamism in the ongoing GO-NGO collective efforts, especially to support unprivileged children, toward building a child-friendly Rangpur city.