Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain addressed as the chief guest at a workshop titled ‘Elimination of Child Labour’ in Srimangal on Saturday. Photo: PID

SRIMANGAL, May 18, 2025 (BSS) - Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain has said coordinated approach of all ministries is required to curb child labour as it has been emerged as a major problem in the country.

The adviser made this comment while addressing as the chief guest at a workshop titled ‘Elimination of Child Labour’ here on Saturday.

The adviser said most of the children are usually being deprived of education as they are engaging in various labor-intensive activities like farm fields, fishing and brick kilns.

Even these children are also being compelled to engage in child labour for reducing financial pressure of their families resulting to pose a negative impact on their education and health as well.

With Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman in the chair, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Mamtaz Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.
 
Following its inception in 2014, the National Child Labour Welfare Council (NCWC) is working to ensure children right, safety and their overall growth, said Dr Sakhawat Hussain.

In this connection, he laid emphasize on removing the child labour saying all public and private agencies have to come forward to supplement the government’s efforts for the welfare of the children.

He said the national steering committee along with upazila, district and divisional committee are also working to eliminate child labour.

“Even different private agencies are implementing various projects along with the government for growth and education of the children”, he added.

The labour and employment ministry is working to eliminate child labour as per the convention-138 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the United Nations, said the labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman.
 
Collective efforts will help to make a children friendly Bangladesh, he added.

Terming the child labour as a complicated social problem, the secretary said the ministry is implementing various programmes, which include rehabilitation, social safety and developing mass awareness, to alleviating child labour.

ILO representative Neeran Raamjuthan, Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Mohd. Israil Hossain and representatives from different local and foreign bodies, among others, attended the function.