State Minister for Labour and Employment, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, emphasized the need to eradicate child labour to build a more prosperous and advanced Bangladesh. He highlighted the importance of social resistance against child labour and the need to provide children with technical and vocational education to transform them into skilled workers.

Speaking at a workshop on child labour mitigation, organized by his ministry at the office conference hall of the Divisional Commissioner on Tuesday, Chowdhury called for comprehensive efforts to address this critical issue.

The workshop was chaired by the Commissioner of Rajshahi Division, Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, and featured notable speakers including Secretary to the Ministry Mahbub Alam, Additional Secretary Jahangir Alam, Director General of the Directorate of Labour Tariqul Alam, and Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Abdur Rahman Khan. Other speakers included Additional Divisional Commissioner Tartafder Akter Jamil, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Shamim Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Saifur Rahman, and Chief Field Officer of UNICEF Toufique Ahmed.

Chowdhury announced that a pilot project has been initiated to prevent child labour, with Rajshahi set to be the first area to benefit from this intervention. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to eliminate child labour, noting that 43 sectors have already been banned from employing children due to the high risks involved.

The state minister emphasized that preventing child labour requires the combined efforts of government and non-governmental organizations. He called for mass awareness campaigns and urged factory and industry owners to collaborate in protecting children’s rights.

Following the workshop, Chowdhury visited the divisional office of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the National Occupational Health and Security Research and Training Institute, and the Divisional Labour Office. He also held discussions with officials and stakeholders to further address child labour issues.