Destitute Children and Initiatives for their Welfare in Bangladesh

Birth registration

In Bangladesh Union Parishad at rural areas and Paurosova at urban areas are the

authorized bodies for children’s birth registration. According to the survey report

of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) at present, about

12% of total children after birth are registered in the country (BSAF, 2003:24). It

was only 3% in accordance with the survey conducted in 1997 (Chowdhury and

Rahim, 1997).

Child health malnutrition and child mortality

A total of 11 million children below 5 year die due to malnutrition all over the world

every year. The death rate of children below 5 was 144 in Bangladesh in 1990. It

was controlled and the rate reduced to 77 in 2003 (BSAF, 2003: 86). According to

an another report, the severe malnutrition rate of children below 5 year was 68% in

1995-96 and 58% children aged between 6 months to 6 years were under weight.

Consequently, the normal growth rate of 51% is being hampered and of 24% is

being hampered severely (GOB, 1996). According to government statistics, about

70% children below 5 year are the victims of malnutrition. Of them, 11% are

the worst victim of malnutrition. One child out of 7 dies before 5 days of birth

in Bangladesh (GOB, 1998:170). Another study shows that at present, the rate

of severe under weight is 3%, which was 13.1% in 1990 (BSAF, 2003:88). The

rate of diarrhea-affected children below 5 year came down at 5% in 2003, which

was 12% in 1990. On the way of making Polio Free Bangladesh, at present, 97%

children have come under the programs of polio vaccination, which was 77% in

1990 (BSAF, 2003:88).

Healthy environment

In rural and urban areas, a large number of children are deprived of getting healthy

environment especially children of slums are suffering from different types of

diseases due to environmental pollution. They use polluted water for bath and

other home works. According to a study, a total of 91% people in urban areas use

safe water while the rate in rural areas is 63%. Majority of the population do not

have the facilities for sanitary latrine. In rural areas, the rate of usage of sanitary

latrine is 39% only and the rate in urban areas is 87% while the rate in slums areas

is 67% only (BBS and UNICEF, 1996-97).

It is to be noted here that it is found in different research studies, there are ten

million people in Dhaka city. Of them, 50% population lives in slum areas. So, a

huge number of populations are living in the slum areas through out the country.

This is why; these people are compelled to live in polluted environment such as air

pollution, water pollution, sound pollution and so on. Children involved in labour

are the victims of such polluted environment. Children engaged in bidi factory,

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