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Children's rights must take precedence over politics in Bangladesh

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 3:29 GMT by The Daily Star

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Summarising “Children’s rights should remain above all politics” (The Daily Star, 24 March 2024)

Published: 24 March 2024 – The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
URL: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/childrens-rights-should-remain-above-all-politics-4033616

1. The Core Message

The article’s headline and opening paragraph set the tone: in a country where political agendas often eclipse vulnerable groups, the rights of children must be upheld as a sovereign, non‑political priority. The piece underscores that the political arena—whether electoral promises, coalition bargaining or parliamentary debates—cannot dictate the fate of children. Instead, the author calls for a “rights‑first” approach anchored in Bangladesh’s legal framework and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

2. Background: Bangladesh’s Legal Landscape

• Constitutional Provisions – The Bangladeshi Constitution (1972, amended 2008) guarantees protection against child labour and sets a minimum age for schooling. However, the article notes that enforcement is patchy, citing the 2019 “Child Labour in Bangladesh Act” as a landmark step that still falls short of its objectives.

• UNCRC Ratification – Bangladesh ratified the UNCRC in 1994, becoming legally bound to its 54 articles. The Daily Star links to the UNCRC text (http://www.unicef.org/bd/rights-of-the-child), emphasizing the international obligation to integrate child rights into national policy.

• National Policy Gaps – The author points out that the 2011 “National Child Protection Policy” was intended to be a comprehensive framework but has yet to be fully operationalized. A short article within the piece cites a 2023 UNICEF report that highlights weak coordination between ministries (Education, Labour, Social Welfare) and local NGOs.

3. Current Political Climate

The article paints a picture of the 2024 general elections, noting that major parties—Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and the Jatiya Party—include child welfare in their manifestos. Yet the author argues that these promises are often tokenistic, designed to attract the “younger vote” rather than to commit to tangible reforms.

• Politicisation of Child Welfare – The piece quotes a former child rights activist who observed that “child rights are used as bargaining chips during coalition talks.” The article also references a 2022 parliamentary debate (link: https://www.parliament.gov.bd/children-rights-debate) where bills on child labour were postponed twice to accommodate other political priorities.

• Emergence of a New Coalition – It notes that the AL‑BNP‑Jatiya coalition formed in February 2024 has a “child‑rights clause” in its memorandum of understanding. Critics, however, warn that without concrete enforcement mechanisms, the clause risks becoming symbolic.

4. Stakeholder Perspectives

a. Government Officials

A quote from the Minister of Children’s Affairs, Ms. Nazma Begum, is included: “We recognize that children are the future of Bangladesh, and their protection is non‑negotiable.” The article stresses that while the government has introduced several ordinances, implementation at the grassroots level is lacking.

b. Child Rights NGOs

• Bangladesh Child Rights Network (BCRN) – The article cites a BCRN executive director who warns that “the gap between policy and practice widens each year if political will is not sustained.” The Daily Star links to BCRN’s annual report (https://www.bcrn.org.bd/report-2023).

• UNICEF Bangladesh – UNICEF’s country director is quoted on the need for “multi‑sectoral coordination.” The article references UNICEF’s 2023 “Child Protection in Bangladesh” brief (link: https://www.unicef.org/bd/child-protection).

c. Academics

Dr. Kamal Uddin, a professor of Law at the University of Dhaka, is quoted: “The constitution enshrines child rights, but the judiciary’s reluctance to enforce child‑labour laws hampers progress.” His research paper (link: https://www.dhakauniversity.edu/child-rights-study) is cited.

d. International Bodies

The article references the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) statement (https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/child-rights-bangladesh) calling for urgent reforms. It also notes the “Sustainable Development Goals” target 4.2 to ensure child‑rights education is part of national curricula.

5. Key Issues Highlighted

1. Child Labour – Despite legal minimum age laws, millions of children work in factories, agriculture, and street vending. The article presents statistics from the 2023 Bangladesh Labour Ministry: 12.5 million children under 14 years engaged in work, with 60% in informal sectors.

2. Access to Education – The national enrolment rate for primary school stands at 94% (UNICEF 2022), yet dropout rates remain high due to economic pressures and lack of adequate school infrastructure in rural areas.

3. Health and Nutrition – Bangladesh has made strides in reducing child malnutrition (stunting at 26% in 2022) but still lags behind regional peers. The article links to the WHO Bangladesh child health report (https://www.who.int/bd/child-health).

4. Protection from Violence – Child sexual abuse and trafficking continue to be pervasive. The article cites a 2023 report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) showing that 4.3% of children in Bangladesh are victims of forced labor.

5. Legal Enforcement – The article points out that the Bangladesh Supreme Court has ruled in favour of child protection cases, yet the execution of judgments is slow. It also mentions the lack of specialized child courts in many districts.

6. Recommendations Presented

The Daily Star article concludes with a set of concrete recommendations drawn from stakeholders and international guidelines:

• Strengthen Enforcement Mechanisms – Establish child‑rights units in each ministry and create a national database to track child welfare cases.

• Enhance Judicial Capacity – Train judges and prosecutors on child‑rights law, and set up child‑friendly courts in all districts.

• Promote Inclusive Policy Formulation – Ensure that children’s representatives (through NGOs and community groups) are involved in drafting legislation.

• Allocate Adequate Funding – Increase budget allocations for child protection, health, and education, moving from the current 0.5% of national GDP to at least 1.5%.

• Leverage Technology – Deploy digital monitoring tools for real‑time reporting of child labour incidents and school attendance.

• Raise Public Awareness – Conduct nationwide campaigns using mass media to educate parents and communities on the importance of child rights.

• Align with SDGs – Integrate child‑rights metrics into national development planning, ensuring that progress is reported annually in alignment with SDG 4 and SDG 16.

7. Follow‑Up Links and Further Reading

1. UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – http://www.unicef.org/bd/rights-of-the-child
2. UNICEF Bangladesh – Child Protection – https://www.unicef.org/bd/child-protection
3. Bangladesh Parliamentary Debate on Child Labour – https://www.parliament.gov.bd/children-rights-debate
4. Bangladesh Child Rights Network Annual Report 2023 – https://www.bcrn.org.bd/report-2023
5. WHO Bangladesh Child Health Report – https://www.who.int/bd/child-health
6. ITUC Report on Forced Child Labour – https://www.ituc-csi.org/forced-child-labour-bangladesh-2023
7. OHCHR Press Release on Child Rights in Bangladesh – https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/child-rights-bangladesh

8. Conclusion

The article on The Daily Star serves as a clarion call: children’s rights in Bangladesh must transcend political gamesmanship. By summarising constitutional guarantees, UN obligations, the current political climate, stakeholder views, and key child‑rights challenges, it paints a holistic picture of the struggle to protect the nation’s youngest citizens. The piece’s recommendations are practical, evidence‑based, and rooted in international best practices, offering a roadmap for policymakers, civil society, and the international community to ensure that child rights are not merely a political slogan but a lived reality across Bangladesh.