RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY, Apr 30: The number of child labourers is increasing day-by-day in an alarming rate in all the nine upzilas of the district revealing the pitiable living condition of the people in rural areas.
Nearly thirteen thousands children, both boys and girls, are engaged in different hazardous works to supplement the income of their poor parents.
These children, who are supposed to be in schools are struggling day and night in different fields, said a survey report by some students of Anthropology Department in Rajshahi University (RU) recently.
They are engaged in risky works in welding workshops, vehicle garages, tea stalls, hotels and in restaurants. Many of them work for only free meals without any pay.
They earn living by pulling rickshaw carts, working in small and medium factories, construction works etc.
They are rendering services in different tea stalls and automobile garages. Instead of sending them to schools, their parents now are sending them to work places to fight against poverty.
An 11 years old child labourer Md. Asif, of Shampur area under Paba upazila said in an interview, "My father is a day labourer and my mother is a maid servant. Their earnings are not enough to cover the total expenditure of the family. That is why I am working at a local tea stall instead of going to school."
The International Labour Law forbids child labour under the age of 15, but in our country this law is not followed, said Dr Mostofa Kamal, an expert on developments issues.
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Child labour on alarming increase in Rajshahi
RU Correspondent | Published: May 01, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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