'Amend laws to eliminate hazardous child labour’

The government should amend all relevant laws, which permit children to engage in hazardous labour, said Prof Mizanur Rahman of Dhaka University.

The roundtable titled 'Reaching out to working children: Need for an effective national child labour policy' was held at the LGED Bhaban at Agargaon in the city recently on the occasion of Child Rights Week-2005.

Speaking as the chief guest, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said the prevailing socio-economic condition is forcing children to work under low wages and in a hazardous condition.

Reducing poverty at the grassroots level through accelerating economic growth is a must to address the child labour issue, he added.

Safiqul Islam, secretary of the labour ministry, said the government has prepared a draft of child labour law in 2002, but it is not yet finalised.

"We are trying our best to give it a complete shape," he added.

Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, presided over the roundtable.

Olaf Ridgeburg, country manager of the Save the Children, Sweden-Denmark, was also present.