16 Children were burnt alive while ILO was at Sleeping stage.

What type system does we have where
we want to do everything to protect a group of children against COVID-19,
while forcing other children to work in the factory.

Goverment Officialy said more than 15 children were today burnt alive and some workers jumped off the roof and died. This incident took place at the factory in Rupganj, an industrial town 25km (15 miles) east of capital Dhaka, on 8th July 2021.

There were about two hundred workers in the factory when the fire broke out in Rupganj. The bodies of 52 people have been recovered. As many as 50 people were injured, most of them are in hospital. Police initially thought there could be at least 16 children among the dead at the factory. In fact, the number is much higher than that. And more than half of them were girls.

In addition to the insecurity of the workers, another issue that has come to the fore is the sad reality of child labor. Bangladesh has child protection laws but more than 4 million children are employed in various sectors and more than 3 million of them are working in hazardous environments .

Officials of the Government say that they have filed a lawsuit against the factory in a labor court on June 30th for allegedly employing children at a salary of 20 rupees.

According to the latest figures from the fire service, there have been 6,081 fires in the factories alone in the last six years. Hundreds of workers were burnt to death in a devastating fire at the Tazreen Fashions garment factory in Nishchintopur, Savar in 2012. Hundreds of child laborers have died in one horrific fire after another year.

Many workers could not be identified as most of the bodies were burnt. Attempts are now being made to identify them through DNA tests. It is learned that Hashem Foods and Beverages factory has regular child laborers. A significant portion of the casualties are children where there are many child laborers aged about 11/12 years.

The Rupganj incident proved once again that just as the jasper owners are not abiding by the labor laws in the factories, so are the government oversight bodies not fulfilling their responsibilities in this regard. As in previous incidents, security personnel installed the main gate at the Hashem Foods factory after a fire broke out.

Building codes are not being followed in factories or multi-storied buildings. The number of multi-storied buildings of RAJUK and its clearance from the fire service shows that about 12,000 buildings are without clearance till 2017.

On the other hand, fire safety management in commercial and industrial buildings, including smoke detectors, fire detectors, fire-fighting cylinders and fire-fighting hose pipes and reservoirs, is not being complied with. The occurrence of these fires sends a clear message that such fires are not just accidents, but structural killings.

Child labour is profitable aa wage of the children are small. Here in Bangladesh it is 20 taka that means 1/42 dollar per day. They complain few and they accomplish is some industries and occupations as much as adult. Employees therefore, don’t hesitate in exploit the children in their own interest with out any consideration to their need for healthy growth and development.

Article 25 (2) of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that
motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 24 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) says.
1. Every child shall have, without any discrimination as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property or birth, the right to such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor, on the part of his family, society and the State.

2. Every child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have a name.

3. Every child has the right to acquire a nationality.

Art 26 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( UDHR) says
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2.Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3.Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Apart from that, following declarations
Of several conventions have been passed.
The Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 1959
The Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
The United Nations World Summit for Children 1990
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development1992
The World Conference on Human Rights 1993

The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopts the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, calling for the immediate prohibition and elimination of any form of work that is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. UNICEF has been working with the ILO since 1996 to promote the ratification of international labour standards and policies concerning child labour.

Tragically this year’s World Day Against Child Labour will be celebrated with a “Week of Action against Child Labour”, marked from 10-18 June 2021.Throughout this special week, events and activities around the world will provide an opportunity to discuss the new ILO-UNICEF global estimates and trends on child labour and showcase progress on the implementation of International Year. Originally The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF has no credibility left in public’s eye.

There has been great concern for the welfare of children at the international levels. Kofi A. Annan, Former Secretary – General of United Nations, obsessed that ” There is no more scared that the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected that their lives are free and want and they grew up in peace. “