RAJSHAHI, May 15, 2019 (BSS)- Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) within near future will adopt all possible measures for physical and mental flourishing of children to transform them into worthy citizens.
“We are pledged bound to build playground and amusement and recreational spaces for the children everywhere in the city areas equally,” asserted city Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton while addressing a view-sharing meeting here yesterday afternoon as chief guest.
He said initiative will be taken to free all the government lands from illegal occupation for using those for the purpose of children welfare. “We have plans of constituting citizens’ welfare committee for the children side by side with creation of separate division for them in the city corporation,” he added.
Association for Community Development (ACD), a Rajshahi-based development organization, hosted the meeting titled “Children’s Right to Play in Rajshahi City” at the city bhaban conference hall to mark the dissemination of study findings on the issue.
Save the Children supported the meeting in association with its ‘IKEA Good Cause Campaign’ with the main theme of “I Play, I Learn and I’m Safe”.
Chaired by ACD Executive Director Salima Sarwar the meeting was attended by government officials, policy makers, public representatives, development activists, professional leaders and other stakeholders.
Saleh Mahmud, Assistant Professor of Department of Sociology in Rajshahi University, presented the study findings putting forward a set of recommendations on how to flourish latent talent of the children. Additional Deputy Commissioner Alamgir Kabir, former national cricket team captain Khaled Masud Pilot, Editor of Daily Sonali Sangbad Liakat Ali, District Primary Education Officer Abdus Salam and Save the Children Programme Manager Masudur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
Mayor Liton said holistic approach of all government, non government organisations and individuals concerned has become an urgent need to protect the legitimate rights of children equally for both boys and girls as they will be the key players to take the nation forward in the future.
Children are the future of the country and development of the country cannot be thought of ignoring their rights.
Liton also told the meeting that the government has taken up various measures for improving the lot of children. More such initiatives should be taken up through proper planning for them. Children must be freed from all sorts of cruelties and inhuman behaviours, violation, repression and deprivation for building them as worthy citizens.