Child workers on the rise on RU campus

Spurt in petty crimes and drug addiction among such children

Increasing incidents of child labour on the Rajshahi University (RU) campus can be attributed to poor people sending their children to work to run their families.
Shahidul Babu, 11, has been working at a tea stall at Tukitaki Chattar for about four years. “My father is ill and can’t work to run the family. So, I’ve been working here. I work from early morning till 8.30pm. I get Tk. 70–80 daily and free meals,” he said. 
“I buy food for my sick parents with the money I take home,” he added.
Like Babu, about 200 children, aged between eight and 12 years, are now working in tea stalls, dining-halls, canteens, food corners and photocopy shops. Some of them are even seen pulling rickshaw-vans inside the campus.
Abdullah, 10, a resident of Binodpur under Rajshahi district, has been working as a canteen boy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall for the past two years. “I get Tk. 80 per day. As my father is sick, I have to run the family,” he said.
Besides, many children working as hawkers earn a pittance by selling cigarettes, candies, ice-creams and groundnuts, sources said.
The rise in the number of child workers on the RU campus indicates the parlous financial condition of the people in the region. Parents are forced to send their kids to take up risky jobs as they are in dire financial straits. The children slog from early morning till night only for a pittance to support themselves and their families. Recounting their harrowing experience, Parvez and Hasan, who have been working at the University Station Bazar area, said, “Some owners physically assault us and use abusive language when we are overworked 
and in pain. Sometimes, the owners 
don’t even give the money they had agreed to pay.” 
Some shopkeepers said children were more sincere, dependable and dutiful than adult workers. Luthfor Rahman, owner of Rupali Hotel at the University Station Market, said, “Engaging child workers is cheaper for small businesses like us. It’s not possible to engage adult labourers as our earnings are not much."
Prof. Meherul Islam of the RU’s finance department said engaging children in such hazardous work could be exceedingly harmful for their physical and mental growth. Carrying loads was more dangerous then any other job and these children suffered various physical and mental problems, he added.
As a result, the number of drug addicts among children is increasing on the RU campus and its adjacent areas.
Dr Mirza Wazed Beg, chief physician of the RU Medical Centre, said, “Drug addiction and petty crimes among children are rising alarmingly.”
Dr Md. Anamul Haque, child specialist and teacher of the RU psychology department, said, “A huge number of families cannot support their children because of poor financial condition. That’s why the number of child workers is increasing alarmingly in various sectors.”
The government must come forward and provide financial support to these families, he added.
Prof. Abdur Rahman Siddique, child specialist and sociologist, said: “World leaders have appreciated Bangladesh’s success in achieving MDG (Minimum Development Goals) and reducing child labour. We’ve to reduce instances of increasing child labour. Only then, we'll will fully achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2025.”
RU pro vice-chancellor Prof. Sarwar Jahan said: “These children are suffering from different physical and mental problems.” 
“If we find anyone deploying child labour on our campus, we’ll take strong action against them,” he added.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Articles 6 (1) and 16 (2) says: “States shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of children.”
The Convention defines child as anyone below the age of 18 years and spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere should enjoy, including the right to protection from economic exploitation (Article 32) and the right to education (Article 28).
Bangladesh has also ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.

 

Child workers on the rise on RU campus

Spurt in petty crimes and drug addiction among such children

Increasing incidents of child labour on the Rajshahi University (RU) campus can be attributed to poor people sending their children to work to run their families. Shahidul Babu, 11, has been working at a tea stall at Tukitaki Chattar for about four years. My father is ill and cant work to run the family. So, Ive been working here. I work from early morning till 8.30pm. I get Tk. 7080 daily and free meals, he said. I buy food for my sick parents with the money I take home, he added. Like Babu, about 200 children, aged between eight and 12 years, are now working in tea stalls, dining-halls, canteens, food corners and photocopy shops. Some of them are even seen pulling rickshaw-vans inside the campus. Abdullah, 10, a resident of Binodpur under Rajshahi district, has been working as a canteen boy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall for the past two years. I get Tk. 80 per day. As my father is sick, I have to run the family, he said. Besides, many children working as hawkers earn a pittance by selling cigarettes, candies, ice-creams and groundnuts, sources said. The rise in the number of child workers on the RU campus indicates the parlous financial condition of the people in the region. Parents are forced to send their kids to take up risky jobs as they are in dire financial straits. The children slog from early morning till night only for a pittance to support themselves and their families. Recounting their harrowing experience, Parvez and Hasan, who have been working at the University Station Bazar area, said, Some owners physically assault us and use abusive language when we are overworked and in pain. Sometimes, the owners dont even give the money they had agreed to pay. Some shopkeepers said children were more sincere, dependable and dutiful than adult workers. Luthfor Rahman, owner of Rupali Hotel at the University Station Market, said, Engaging child workers is cheaper for small businesses like us. Its not possible to engage adult labourers as our earnings are not much. Prof. Meherul Islam of the RUs finance department said engaging children in such hazardous work could be exceedingly harmful for their physical and mental growth. Carrying loads was more dangerous then any other job and these children suffered various physical and mental problems, he added. As a result, the number of drug addicts among children is increasing on the RU campus and its adjacent areas. Dr Mirza Wazed Beg, chief physician of the RU Medical Centre, said, Drug addiction and petty crimes among children are rising alarmingly. Dr Md. Anamul Haque, child specialist and teacher of the RU psychology department, said, A huge number of families cannot support their children because of poor financial condition. Thats why the number of child workers is increasing alarmingly in various sectors. The government must come forward and provide financial support to these families, he added. Prof. Abdur Rahman Siddique, child specialist and sociologist, said: World leaders have appreciated Bangladeshs success in achieving MDG (Minimum Development Goals) and reducing child labour. Weve to reduce instances of increasing child labour. Only then, well will fully achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2025. RU pro vice-chancellor Prof. Sarwar Jahan said: These children are suffering from different physical and mental problems. If we find anyone deploying child labour on our campus, well take strong action against them, he added. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Articles 6 (1) and 16 (2) says: States shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of children. The Convention defines child as anyone below the age of 18 years and spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere should enjoy, including the right to protection from economic exploitation (Article 32) and the right to education (Article 28). Bangladesh has also ratified ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour.