Most certainly, child labour is a persistent issue in Bangladesh, something we have failed to tackle satisfactorily over the years.
Globally, there are 152 million children involved in child labour, of which 73 million are in hazardous work. This is simply too many and it is a gross failure of the entire world that the numbers are what they are, where even one child being exploited is one too many.
To that end, it is good to see that the International Labour Organization had a historic breakthrough, with all 187 member states universally ratifying Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour -- thereby confirming that all children now have legal protection against the worst forms of child labour.
This global commitment to recognize and oppose the worst forms of child labour comes at an important moment, where the Covid-19 pandemic has forced even more children into harsh labour to fend for their livelihood.
The dangers of child labour are endless, from the actual and immediate physical danger posed, to the eventual economic or sexual exploitation that often arises. Childhood is time for education, for physical and mental growth. It is time to prepare for adulthood, certainly not to be burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood and required to earn a livelihood.
Passing a universal ratification on a convention for children to have rights is one thing, but this becomes nothing but yet another meaningless document if there is no action taken to protect the millions of children currently forced to be in child labour. It is time to take a strong stand against child labour, and eliminate it from society once and for all.