Number of street children will cross 1.1m this year

The number of street children in the country will cross 1.1 million at the end of the ongoing calendar year, said a study Wednesday.
It also said the number of street children was 0.6 8 million in 2004.
The finding of the study was disclosed at a seminar on 'Duty for the Street Children' arranged by the Social and Economic Enhancement Programme- SEEP at the IPD conference room at the national parliament in the city.
It also said around 44 per cent of the street children are addicted to smoking while 75 per cent are unable to go for medical treatment during illness.
Nearly 41 per cent have no sleeping bed while 54 per cent have no person to take care of.
Fazle Rabbi Miah, deputy speaker of parliament was the chief guest while Fazlul Haque Choudhury, executive director of SEEP chaired the programme. Among others, Abdulla Al Mamun, programme manager of Manusher Jonno Foundation was present at the seminar.
Fazle Rabbi said a coordinating committee will be formed with 13 ministries concerned for ensuring children rights.
He also said the local government has to be strengthened to reduce the number of street children. At the same time it is necessary to reduce the inbound migration from village to city.
The speakers at the seminar said although the country has different acts and rules for the protection of children rights, there is no proper implementation of the same.