Govt committed to prevent violence against girls: Sharmeen

The government is committed to prevent all sorts of violence against girls and make the country a safe abode for them, Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid said today (30 September).

"The government is firmly committed to protect the children's rights and ensuring a congenial environment for them so that they can grow up in a safe atmosphere," she said at a discussion at Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium in the city, marking the Jatiya Kannya Shishu Dibos 2024 (National Girl Child Day 2024).

Secretary of the women and children affairs ministry Nazma Mobarek was the chair while Shishu Academy Director General Tania Khan, Director General (DG) of the Department of Women Affairs Keya Khan, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum (NGCAF) President Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Save the Children Bangladesh's Deputy Country Director Rifat Bin Sattar and NGCAF Vice President Shaheen Akter Doly spoke on the occasion.

Sharmeen, also the adviser on social welfare, said, in order to prevent violence against the girls, the government will set up a Rapid Response Team comprising government officials, public representatives and children delegates in every district under the initiative of the Women and Child Affairs Ministry.

She said, "We are committed to build a new Bangladesh for the children with the collective efforts of all. As about 45 percent of the country's total population is children and  half of them are girls, we have to ensure safety, quality education and nutrition for each child to build them as worthy citizens".

Sharmeen emphasised stopping child marriage, school dropout and violence and harassment against children and boost up their mental ability to help them dream to build the nation.

"We have to see the future Bangladesh with the eyes of the girl children," she said.

Other speakers at the discussion put emphasis on changing the people's mindset to build a safe country for women and children free from all discrimination, sexual harassment and eve teasing.

The Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and National Girl Child Advocacy Forum jointly observed the National Girl Child Day with various programmes with the theme 'Let's build future Bangladesh as dreamt by Girl Children'.
Jatiya Kannya Shishu Dibos has been observing in Bangladesh on September 30 every year since 2003.