National University VC calls for nationwide movement to protect children’s rights
National University VC calls for nationwide movement to protect children’s rights
National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah has called for a nationwide social movement to protect children’s rights, prevent child marriage and child labour, and address health risks facing children.
He made the call at a seminar at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium on 7 October, saying policies and projects alone were insufficient without coordinated action by families, educational institutions, society and the state, according to the press release.
“The data show that children are the most neglected in this country,” Amanullah said. He urged the creation of “child marriage prevention champions” at district, upazila, union and village levels, with people who had successfully prevented early marriages presented as role models.
“Child marriage has reached an alarming level in the country,” he said.
The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the seminar, titled “50 Years of Children’s Dreams: Achievements, Experiences and Tomorrow’s Bangladesh”, to mark Child Rights Day 2026 and the Bangladesh Shishu Academy’s 50th anniversary. It carried the slogan “Let Children’s Future Be Secure”.
Minister for Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain MP chaired the seminar. Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan MP attended as chief guest, while Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Chairperson Selima Rahman was special guest.
Highlighting children’s health and social risks, Amanullah said under-five mortality remained a concern. He cited figures suggesting that 24% of children suffered from severe malnutrition, rising to between 36% and 45% among children in urban slums and coastal areas.
He also said nearly 40% of children were affected by lead pollution, with the proportion reaching 60% in some urban areas.
On education, Amanullah said the national primary school enrolment rate was 80%, compared with 77.2% in urban slums and between 78% and 82% in coastal areas.
He put the secondary school non-attendance rate at around 34%. Secondary education completion rates in urban slums and coastal areas were below 30% in some locations and between 30% and 35% in others, he said.
Turning to child labour, he said the number of working children aged five to 17 had risen to 3.5 million, while the child labour rate had increased from 6.8% to 9.2%.
Of these children, 1.07 million were working in hazardous conditions, he said, adding that more than 60% of working children in urban slums were engaged in hazardous work.
Expressing concern over child marriage, Amanullah said between 47% and 50% of girls were married before turning 18. The proportion exceeded 58% in climate-vulnerable coastal areas, he added.
He warned that widespread child marriage was making the Sustainable Development Goals increasingly difficult to achieve. Child protection also remained a serious concern, he said, citing a figure of 86% for children experiencing violence at home or school.
“The state has failed to protect children,” Amanullah said. He alleged that the situation had worsened under the previous political government as attention focused on demonstrating visible development.
He called for a coordinated “crash programme” to address the problems, stressing that no single institution or ministry could resolve them alone.
Families, educational institutions, society and the state must work together, with the Bangladesh Shishu Academy serving as a coordinating body, he said.
Amanullah proposed using National University’s extensive network to support nationwide activities for children. The university has around 2,500 affiliated colleges and nearly four million students, he said.
This network could support campaigns on children’s rights, child marriage prevention, the elimination of child labour and health awareness. He also called for the university’s Bangladesh National Cadet Corps and Rover Scout members to work with the Shishu Academy.
Amanullah said children needed more than food, clothing and safety to grow and thrive. Love, care, appropriate education, healthy recreation and opportunities to express themselves were equally important.
Children’s rights could not be viewed in isolation, he said, as physical and mental development were closely linked to education, culture, creativity and social protection.
National Press Club President and Poet Hasan Hafiz was the principal discussant, while Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed presented the keynote paper.
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Secretary Dr Rowshan Ara Begum delivered the welcome address. University of Dhaka Sociology Professor Salma Akter and Clinical Psychologist Professor Dr Kamal Ahmed Chowdhury also participated in the discussion.
Bangladesh Shishu Academy Director General Mosa Arzu Ara Begum delivered the vote of thanks.
