Seminar Reveals 9 in 10 Children Face Abuse in Bangladesh

A staggering 9 out of 10 children aged 1 to 14 in Bangladesh experience physical punishment or mental abuse, often at the hands of their parents, teachers, or guardians, according to a report presented at a national seminar in Dhaka. 

The report, citing UNICEF data, also revealed that nearly 7 percent of children aged 5 to 17 are involved in child labour, with many very young children exposed to hazardous work environments. Among the most vulnerable are the children of garment workers.

The seminar, titled Community-Based Child Protection Mechanism for the Children of Garment Workers in Bangladesh, was held on Monday at a city hotel. It was organised jointly by Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TDH-NL), Breaking the Silence (BTS), and the Village Education Resource Centre (VERC).

Nurul Kabir, programme coordinator of TDH-NL, presented the report, highlighting that millions of children in the country are deprived of their right to identity. He noted that although Bangladesh has 102 child courts, over 23,000 cases involving children are still pending. Compared to last year, abuse against girl children has increased by 75 percent, and in the first seven months of 2025 alone, 306 children were victims of violence.

Kabir also raised concerns about the growing risks posed by the internet. While online platforms provide children and adolescents with access to education and information, easy access to pornography and inappropriate content is having negative impacts on their mental and social development. 

The digital space, he said, is increasingly a source of temptation, harassment, and danger, potentially causing long-term harm to young minds.

He further emphasised that children of garment workers face multiple vulnerabilities, as most are not covered by any formal or community-based child protection systems. These children are often subjected to abuse, exploitation, and hazardous labour, are denied education, and may even be exposed to criminal activities such as theft, drug use, and sexual abuse. Government services for these children remain inadequate, and local institutions, both public and private, often fail to prioritise their needs, leaving them deprived of basic rights, he observed.

The seminar concluded with several key recommendations including establishing a child-friendly protection framework for children in garment communities, creating specialised child protection units within law enforcement agencies, ensuring that rape cases are adjudicated within 90 days, and developing an integrated national child protection system. Updates to laws and policies were also recommended to ensure a child-friendly justice system.

The event was chaired by TDH Bangladesh Country Manager Nazrul Islam and moderated by BTS Director Md. Zahidul Islam. Among others, tje seminar was also addressed, by Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Director General of the Department of Social Services; Naima Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Department of Women Affairs; Javed Hossain Bhuiyan, Director of Padma Apparels; Assistant Commissioner Faria Tasnim; and Rasheda Begum, District Child Welfare Officer. They stressed the urgent need for coordinated action to protect vulnerable children, especially those working in the garment sector.