Islam

work as small vehicle helpers, garments workers, assistants in brick field, shoe

polishers, construction workers, sex workers, carpenters, tannery workers, hawkers

etc. in the urban areas. They become detached from their parents, guardian and

fall into insecurity. Some of them later on get involved in crimes these children

are totally deprived of their rights declared by the UNCRC. To ensure the rights of

the children they should have easy access to healthcare, food, safe water, secure

shelter, social, economic and religious activities. But in spite of being a member of

UN, Bangladesh Government cannot fulfill the obligations contained in the child

rights of 1989 for establishing rights of children due to constraints of resources and

socio-economic and political limitations. There is no doubt that the conditions of

these children bring out a challenge to the national child policy of the government.

These deprived children are defined as destitute children. In fact, the pervasiveness

of different types of deprivation of this large number of children is very much

unexpected. But in our country there is no available statistical information or

statement for understanding and measuring the pervasiveness of their deprivation

level. Among these studies, Alam et al. (2008) determined the effects of some

selected factors on child labour due to poverty in Dinajpur district, Bangladesh.

Again, Mamun et al. (2008) indentified some key factors on health complications

of child labourers during work in Rongpur district, Bangladesh. But there is no

available literature that indicates the impact of these immeasurable miseries.

In this circumstance it has been tried to identify the degree of miseries and its

impact on the national development initiatives. And also has been tried to indicate

the responsibilities of the concern authority. This study is a content analysis and

necessary information were collected from different looks, journals, reports etc.

Existing situation of the destitute children

The government of Bangladesh as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of

the Child 1989 of the United Nations (UN) in 1990 is committed legally to fulfill

the fundamental rights of children. Despite many limitations, the government is

working on priority basis to ensure the rights of children. The priority sectors are

birth registration, education for all, prevention of child trafficking, protection of

children born in brothels, eliminating child labour, healthy environment, children

health, intellectual disability, reduction of suffering of children in custody and

protection of children from HIV/AIDS etc. In this regard Mondal et al. (2014)

identified the childhood disabilities and child protection for the children with

disabilities including those at-risk of sexual abuse and exploitation in Rajshahi

City, Bangladesh.

These issues are discussed below comparatively:

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