RANGPUR, Jan 31, 2020 (BSS) – Experts, officials and public
representatives at a consultation have stressed on proactive private sector
partnership to strengthen GO-NGO endeavors for building a child-friendly
Rangpur city.
They made the observation at the ‘Child friendly city initiatives:
Consultation with the private sector’ held at conference room of Rangpur
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Thursday afternoon.
Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) and RCCI organized the event with UNICEF
support for directors, industrialists, leaders of RCCI, health experts,
UNICEF and city corporation officials.
Presided over by the Chief Executive Officer of RpCC Ruhul Amin Mian,
Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa attended the event as the chief
guest.
UNICEF Chief for Rangpur field office Najibullah Hameem, RCCI President
Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, Divisional Director of the Department of
Family Planning Dr Mahbub Alam and Civil Surgeon Dr Herambo Kumar Roy spoke
as special guests.
UNICEF Child Protection Officer Jesmin Hossain delivered the key note
presentation focusing on the high prevalence of child labour in Rangpur city
while its Programme Officer Hafsa Rahman discussed the UNICEF-supported urban
programmes.
Jesmin said 1.28 million children are engaged in a hazardous welding,
auto workshops, road transport, battery recharging, brick kilns and tobacco
factories in Bangladesh where the highest number of child labour stands at
15.04 percent in Rangpur division.
City Mayor Mostafizar Rahman urged the private sector for extending
support to distressed children for gradually making a child-friendly Rangpur
city.
The RCCI President stressed on joint collaboration among private sector,
government institutions, UNICEF, NGOs and RpCC for eliminating child labour
through ensuring better services for children.
Najibullah Hameem said the government’s primary responsibility is to
create a child-friendly city system and put importance on engaging collective
efforts to improve the living standard of children considering more
investment to develop their future.
“The development partners, stakeholders and private sector should
promote child friendly city initiatives to ensure a fair chance for all
children in life regardless of their locality, religion, economic condition,
gender or ability,” Hameem said.
The participants expressed commitment to work with RpCC putting
importance on developing a comprehensive action plan for child friendly city
initiatives in consultation with all stakeholders and private sector.
Ruhul Amin Mian recommended skills development, training center and
amusement parks for children and their involvement with community-based child
protection committee to ensure their rights to education in Rangpur city.