NCTF Submits Memo to CEC
'Ban use of children in political activities'
Staff Correspondent
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday assured the National Children's Task Force (NCTF) of taking steps to prevent the use of children in political activities. The assurance came when a ten-member NCTF team met the CEC at his office in the city and submitted a memorandum demanding enactment of laws banning the use of children in political programmes. The NCTF is a countrywide children's organisation that monitor the child rights situation and advocate children's concerns at the local and international levels. At the meeting with the CEC, The children urged him to include provisions in the new election code of conduct to bar political parties from involving children in their activities. They said the political parties lure children with money and food, taking the advantage of their poverty and age, and force them into risky activities. The government should provide security for children as they are often unaware of the danger of political activities, the NCTF members said. Election Commissioner Brig. Gen (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain and Sohul Hossain were also present at the hour-long meeting. CEC Shamsul Huda advised the NCTF members to meet the chief adviser to the caretaker government and the leaders of political parties and discuss the issue. The Election Commission is seriously considering this issue and will take every possible step in this regard, he said. The NCTF also placed at the meeting the findings of a survey it conducted on 668 children across the country. The survey shows that the children who took part in political activities have suffered in some way. Some 73 percent of the respondents said children join the processions of political parties mainly for money or food. The survey reveals that 71 percent of respondents are utterly opposed to the children's involvement in political activities while only 3 percent support it. "Joining political activities involves a lot of risk for children," said Ahsan Habib, a student of Sherpur Degree College and member of NCTF. Later, the NCTF organised a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity where its central committee member Sohrab Alam Shanto presented a written statement. Shanto said they are worried about the abuse of children as the political parties involved them in political activities several months ago. He also stressed the need for a massive media campaign to raise awareness among the people about the negative impact of such practice.
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