Unnatural deaths claim 1,765 children
Says MJF report
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), addresses a press conference at Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday. On her right is Abdullah Al Mamun and on her left are Farzana Naim and Shahana Huda. Photo: STAR
At least 1,765 children died and 18,034 were injured in different incidents last year including accidents, repression, wrong treatment and inclement weather, said a report of a non-government organisation yesterday. Among the deaths, 384 resulted from road accidents, 589 from incidents like drowning, electrocution and snake bites, 112 from wrong and lack of treatment and 17 from rape and sexual harassment. It also includes six after kidnappings, five in torture and eight in other crimes, 35 in negligence in duty, especially by doctors, 88 in cold wave and four in other incidents. Among the remaining deaths, 334 resulted from family, land and dowry related feuds while 183 children committed suicide, said the report. Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), an NGO working to promote human rights and good governance, presented the report it prepared based on news published in six Bangla and English dailies at a press conference in the city's Jatiya Press Club. The report classified child related news reports in two categories -- positive and negative news. Negative news includes violation of children's rights, killing, trafficking, rape, child marriage, kidnapping and child labour. The report said more than 1.79 crore children (including the deceased and injured) were victims of different forms of repression and deprived of their rights. The country saw over 86 lakh child victims of repression, over 64 lakh deprived of quality education, over 52 lakh leading a life with health hazards and over 20 lakh forced into early marriage. Meanwhile, the number of positive news was 1,244 last year, said the report. This includes children's participation in social and academic activities, rescues from abduction, early marriage and trafficking, law enforcement on children's rights protection, awards and scholarships, seminars, workshops and trainings. Addressing the programme, MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said children in the underprivileged section of society are leading a vulnerable life as they are deprived of their basic rights. “We are working to protect their rights and end discrimination against them,” she said. Presenting the report, MJF Programme Manager Abdullah Al Mamun said the report's main purpose is to sketch a scenario of the problems face by children, their potentials, the reality of child rights and the reasons and trends of negative incidents against children. MJF Director Farzana Naim and Media and Commutations Coordinator Shahana Huda also spoke at the programme.
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