Like other parts of the globe, Bangladesh has recently observed the World Children's Day by holding an array of programmes. This day reminds us about children's right to enjoy their childhood without any boundaries. The day was first established in 1954. And, now it is celebrated on November 20 every year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide.
This year, the World Children's Day is more important as children's education, nutrition and overall well-being have been irreparably harmed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As schools had been shut down early in 2020 due to the outbreak of the pandemic, the education of 37 million children in Bangladesh was disrupted. Steadily escalating poverty, discrimination, violence, climate crisis and a health emergency like Covid-19, have created a crisis of continued malnutrition among the young around the world. In Bangladesh, only one in every three infants of 6 to 23 months receives minimum recommended nutrition.
Parents, teachers, nurses and physicians and civil society activists, religious and community leaders, corporate moguls and media professionals can play an important part in making the World Children's Day relevant for their societies, communities and nations. The day offers each one of us an inspirational entry point to advocate, promote and to celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.
Fariha Tabassum Piya,
Student of Department of Management,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka,
f.tabassum36@gmail.com