PM Sheikh Hasina asked ministries to take steps to ensure food and education for every street children

"No children would live on the street. The government have the capacity to feed reportedly 34 lakh street children as we have ensured food security for 16 crore people," she said.

The Prime Minister also urged the authorities concerned to ensure admission of every child in the schools of their areas saying it's the right of every child to get admission in the schools of the area where they live in. She asked the official concerned of her office to monitor and coordinate with the ministries in this regard.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the World Children Day and Children's Rights Week-2015 at Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium here today.

The Prime Minister also reiterated her call not to make education as burden for children but create an atmosphere in the schools and families where they would agree to take lesson on their own and feel encouraged in learning.

Sheikh Hasina also unequivocally said the government by no means would accept violence on domestic helps and engagement of children in any risky job saying the government would not tolerate any oppression on children.

State minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroj Chumki presided over the function organized by Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA). UNICEF country representative Edouard Beigbeder attended the function as special guest.

Chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Academy and noted litterateur Selina Hossain and MOWCA secretary Dr Nasima Begum, two underprivileged children M Hashem and Sanjida Afroz Smriti, who are now in the shelter of children welfare projects of the ministry, also spoke on the occasion.

The day is being observed in the country as elsewhere in the world with the theme "Shishu Gorbe Desh, Jodi Pai Poribesh" (Children will build the country if they get environment).

The Prime Minister said it's the responsibility of the government to raise up the children as worthy citizens as they would lead the country in different fronts in future. As well, every children have to know the country's history, culture and heritage.

"Without knowing the glorious history of country, future generation would not be inspired to win in the life struggle," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is making constant efforts to ensure welfare of the children as it enshrined in the country's constitution, UN Children Rights Charter and the Children Act-1974.

She said the United Nations adopted the charter on children rights in 1989, but Bangladesh's Father of the Nation framed the Children Right Act in 1974. In light of the Children Policy-1974, she said the government has framed the Children Policy-2011.

The Prime Minister said her government has given special attention to food security and nutrition of every child as well as the nutrition of the mothers which resulted in reducing child and maternal mortality rate.

Maternal leave for working women has been allowed for six months so that infants get mother's care for more time, she said urging all concerned to open day-care centre in every offices both in public and private sector.

Laying importance on proper physical and mental growth of the children, the Prime Minister said all children need access to sports and recreational activities. In this regard the Prime Minister laid emphasis on keeping sufficient open space in every flats and residential areas for playing.

Urging everybody to take extra care of the autistic children the Prime Minister said her government has a plan to open special counseling in schools for the children suffering from metabolic disorder.

Sheikh Hasina urged all to remain careful to check any repetition of the terrorism unleashed by some political parties from January to March 2015 on the countrymen in general and children in particular in the name of politics.