The civil society members in the district yesterday called for an end to the use of minors in political violence including casting fake votes and capturing poll centres.
They made the call yesterday at a programme held in the city.
Professor Moazzem Hossain, educationist and president of Conscious Citizens Committee, a sister concern of Transparency International Bangladesh, said the use of children for political purposes became a trend nowadays.
The children were made to take to the streets during procession, throw bricks and cocktails and carry out arson attacks, he said.
Prof Moazzem observed that in a recent trend the minors were being hired to cast fake votes for the election and capture vote centres as original voters remained absent and boycotted the election.
The rights activist termed such use of children devastating.
Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, secretary, election-observing organisation, FEMA, said as the voter ID cards were yet to be introduced everywhere for casting votes, political parties were cashing in on the absence of voter ID cards and using children for casting votes.
He called for a concerted effort by all political parties, election commission officials and law enforcement agencies to stop the use of children.
The rights activist also stressed the need for social awareness in this regard.
Jiban Krishna Dey, a retired primary school headmaster and child rights activist, said if the children were taught to involve in corruption by casting fake votes and capturing vote centres from their childhood, the nation would not be able to expect that the children would be patriotic, honest and disciplined citizens in future.
He emphasised that the authorities strictly enforce law against the use of children for political purposes.
District Returning Officer Dulal Talukdar said casting fake votes by anybody was completely forbidden and a punishable crime.
The polling agents of different political parties could play a more important role by challenging fake voters than the electoral officials, he said.