Bangladesh observed the World Day against Child Labour in a befitting manner on June 12. To mark the day with due fanfare many seminars and symposiums were arranged across the country. Many legal experts and human rights activists participated in the conclave to give their opinions and suggestions to eradicate child labour. Statistics show that 12.90 lakh children are engaged in hazardous child labour in Bangladesh. Most of them are forced by acute poverty. They work in garment factories, tannery, construction sites etc. They work hard in a risky condition but are paid nominally. Besides, many children are working as domestic helps. They are not counted formally. They are the worst sufferers. Most of them are tortured in many ways. They are sexually harassed. Sometimes they are physically manhandled for trivial reason. They are bound to accept this ordeal only for survival. We are shell-shocked when we find that a 10-year girl has been crippled by her employer for breaking a simple glass. Such incidents take place in the affluent and so-called educated families. To abolish child labour from the society the people should be mobilised, poverty has to be alleviated and more employment opportunities need to be generated. The government should enforce the existing laws to penalise the culprits. Harsher laws can be enacted to end child labour, if need be.
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