With the theme 'Let us show the red card to child labour, ensure the just rights of children, and create suitable employment for adults,' a massive human chain and rally was held in Nilphamari on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour where the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) backed Conscious Citizens Committee (Sanak) organized the hour-long program at the town's Chourangi Intersection on Sunday morning, drawing spontaneous participation from people of various professions, youths, and members of different social organizations. Presided over by Sanak President Aktarul Alam Raju, the human chain was addressed by YES Team Leader Sakhawat Hossain, Co-leader Barsha Pramanik, YES members Abdul Kuddus Utsho and Kumari Brishti Rani Roy, and TIB Area Coordinator Asaduzzaman. In his presidential address, Aktarul Alam Raju noted with grave concern that despite policy commitments and international pledges to eradicate child labour in Bangladesh, it remains a major social challenge in reality, and particularly, the alarming prevalence of child labour in the waste management sector clearly highlights the issues of poverty, dominance of the informal sector, and governance deficits before society and the administration. He further emphasized in his speech that effective and structural reforms are urgently needed to overcome this undesirable situation because child labour not only robs children of their beautiful childhood but also severely impedes their access to basic education, healthcare, and a secure future, thereby requiring the government, local administration, business community, and civil society to work in tandem to build a completely child labour-free society. During the program, a five-point charter of recommendations was presented on behalf of TIB to the relevant stakeholders to eliminate child labour in the waste management sector, where the speakers laid special emphasis on immediately stopping the recruitment of children in all types of hazardous work, ensuring their compulsory education, strengthening social safety nets, and simultaneously creating suitable employment opportunities for adults. Addressing the event, TIB Area Coordinator Asaduzzaman recalled the background of the day, stating that the International Labour Organization (ILO) introduced the 'World Day Against Child Labour' in 2002 to bring the plight of child labourers and their protection to the global forefront, and although the day is officially observed worldwide on June 12 every year, they continue to organize such constructive programs at different times to raise public awareness. Finally, the program concluded with a specific call from the lively human chain and rally to build a vibrant nationwide social movement against child labour and to ensure a safe, education-friendly, and dignified childhood for every single child.
