Dhaka, 21 October 2025: Ahead of the upcoming national elections in Bangladesh, over 200 children have issued a six-point manifesto, urging the Government, political parties, and all concerned actors to prioritise child protection and rights in their commitments, policies, and programmes. The manifesto calls for quality education, healthcare protection, participation and inclusion of children’s voices, cyber safety, climate justice, and a safe environment for all children. It also urges stronger enforcement of laws to end child marriage, child labour, and violence against children.
The manifesto was presented today (Tuesday, 21 October) at a special event organised by ActionAid Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, as part of the Children’s Rights Week 2025 celebration. With the theme “Empowering Children, Ending Child Marriage – Ensuring Safe Childhoods in the Digital World”, the event showcased the voices of children from marginalised communities and called for concerted action to uphold their rights.
A panel discussion on “Empowering Children, Ending Child Marriage, and Ensuring Safe Childhoods in the Digital World” was held, moderated by Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh. The panel included senior government officials from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, academics, and child rights experts from national and international development organisations. Speakers emphasised that ensuring children’s holistic development and protection is a shared responsibility of the State, society, institutions, and individuals. They also stressed that the time to act for a safer and more secure future for children is now.
During the session, children read out their manifesto, expressing key expectations for their physical and mental well-being, and called for active cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure their rights and development.
Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, stated, “Policies concerning children directly affect their lives. Listening to them and including their perspectives in decision-making is not only their right but also the foundation of effective policy formulation. Particularly in the digital era, we must work collectively to ensure both the safety and opportunities for children. We must remember — if we fail to protect children, questions will remain about the integrity of our development.”
Tamanna, a child representative participating in the event, said, “We want education on sexual and reproductive health and rights to be made compulsory in every school and incorporated into the national education curriculum. To end child marriage and ensure cyber safety, we urge the Government not to stop at enacting laws but to ensure their consistent monitoring and enforcement. We also call upon development organisations to conduct awareness campaigns and organise training on life skills and leadership development for children.”
Shabnam Mustari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, called for stronger collaboration among the Government, civil society, and development partners, stating, “Establishing an effective cyber unit to prevent online harassment and incorporating digital literacy into the national curriculum are essential. A collective effort is crucial to build a safe and just society for children.”
Dilara Begum, Director General (Additional Secretary), Bangladesh Shishu Academy, said, “The Academy is working to nurture creativity and intellect among children. We are also focusing on promoting positive and responsible parenting. Creating an environment where children can confidently voice their opinions at the policy level is a national responsibility.”
Ms. Natalie McCauley, Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Bangladesh, said, “Children must be recognised as essential future leaders, and their voices must not be ignored. A permanent and dedicated division on children within the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs could help address existing systematic gaps.”
Mohammad Emdad-ul-Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), stated, “Ensuring safe online platforms for children requires digitally skilled and responsible parents. Alongside identifying harmful content, BTRC aims to develop and enforce a robust legal framework to hold social media platforms accountable.”
Md. Elius Ziku, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, remarked, “Preventing online harassment of children requires not only enforcement but also policy reform and new legislation aligned with evolving technology. Enhancing cyber awareness among parents and caregivers is equally vital.”
Dr. Tania Haque, Honorary Member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), noted, “Child marriage has unfortunately gained social acceptance, which is a grave human rights violation. Strengthening and enforcing the legal framework is crucial to protecting children, and we must promote gender-neutral parenting to reduce discrimination.”
The event featured cultural performances by children and a symbolic Children’s Parliament Session, where children from different parts of the country directly presented their concerns and policy demands before government officials and NGO representatives. Around 80 child journalists from across Bangladesh also joined virtually.
Among others, S.M. Shafaet Hossain, Joint Secretary, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division; Mohammad Aminul Hakim, President, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB); and Nurunnahar Mozumdar, Senior Vice Principal, Scholastica School, attended the event.
For more information:
Shabbir Rahman
Communications Manager, ActionAid Bangladesh
Mobile: +8801681-523496 | Email: shabbir.rahman@actionaid.org