A roundtable discussion titled The Role of Media in Raising Public Awareness for the Elimination of Child Labour: Current Realities and Our Expectations was held on Monday (13 October) at an elite restaurant in the capital. The event was jointly organized by Action for Social Development (ASD), Educo Bangladesh, and Shapla Neer Bangladesh.
The discussion focused on the crucial role of media in building nationwide awareness and encouraging collective action to eliminate child labour in Bangladesh.
Among the distinguished participants were Mosammat Sharmin Akter, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Md. Abdul Wadud, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment; M.A. Karim, Executive Director, ASD; Abdul Hamid, Country Director, Educo Bangladesh; Yumi Yagishita Masuda, Country Director, Shapla Neer Bangladesh; Fatema Khairunnahar, Child Protection Department, UNICEF Bangladesh; Khandaker Riaz Hossain, Director, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum; Ashraf Uddin, Executive Director, Bangladesh Labour Foundation; Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, National Director, SOS Children’s Village; and several senior journalists from leading media houses including The Daily Times of Bangladesh, NTV Online, RTV, Kaler Kantho, Khoborer Kagoj, Rupali Bangladesh, Samakal, Dhaka FM, and Radio Amber.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Dr. Nazmuzzaman Bhuiyan, Professor of Law at the University of Dhaka. The session was moderated by UKM Farhana Sultana of ASD and Afzal Kabir Khan of Educo Bangladesh.
The event began with a welcome address by M.A. Karim, Executive Director of ASD, followed by greetings from Abdul Hamid, Country Director of Educo Bangladesh, and Yumi Yagishita Masuda, Country Director of Shapla Neer Bangladesh.
Key Highlights from the Discussion
Participants emphasized the urgent need for coordinated efforts among the government, media, and development organizations to combat child labour and protect children’s rights.
Golam Rabbani, Head of Digital, Khoborer Kagoj, stressed the importance of raising awareness among parents of child labourers and leveraging social media for advocacy, alongside increased budget allocation for awareness campaigns.
Maidur Rahman Rubel, Assignment Editor, RTV, pointed out that child rights are often violated both knowingly and unknowingly, urging all stakeholders to work collectively.
Jashim Majumder, News Editor, NTV Online, highlighted the need to sensitize media policymakers to ensure awareness projects reach intended audiences effectively.
Md. Fardaus Mobarok, Senior News Editor, The Daily Times of Bangladesh, said that national development depends on nurturing children properly and emphasized prioritizing child labour news.
Daud Hossain Rony, Feature Editor, Kaler Kantho, noted that many newspapers closed their children’s sections after the COVID-19 pandemic and called for increased awareness among rural communities.
Omar Faruk, Feature Editor, Daily Rupali Bangladesh, pointed out that parents of child workers are often unaware of such discussions and need direct awareness interventions.
Mahfuzur Rahman Manik, Senior Sub-Editor, Daily Samakal, cited data from the Ministry of Education showing that while 95 percent of children attend school, 16 percent drop out—many becoming child labourers. He called for year-round campaigns and investigative reporting on the root causes of child labour.
Md. Mijanoor Rahman Ripon, from Dhaka FM and Radio Amber, emphasized the need for continuous, year-long media planning to raise awareness among parents of domestic child workers.
Remarks from Government Representatives
Mosammat Sharmin Akter, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, noted that unlike campaigns against child marriage, awareness on child labour has been limited. She mentioned that discussions are underway to introduce child-focused pages or sections in collaboration with media organizations.
Md. Abdul Wadud, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, stated that the media should play a proactive role in highlighting all aspects of child labour and bringing relevant data to public attention.
Representatives from ILO, UNICEF, and other national and international organizations and networks working on child rights and the elimination of child labour also took part in the discussion and shared their insights.