Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday launched Bangladesh’s first-ever toll-free ‘Child Helpline-1098’ putting emphasis on creating mass awareness to stop child repression.
Sheikh Hasina called upon all to build a beautiful society by awakening their latent human qualities.
“Awareness should be raised so ood intentions flourish instead of beastly attitude...and the social welfare ministry will have to play the leading role to this end,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina formally launched the ‘Child Helpline — 1098’ from her Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka through videoconferencing to provide a free telephone service to children who are facing violence, abuse and exploitation.
The prime minister also talked to the victims of Faridpur Safe Home and Rajbari Safe Home through the videoconferencing.
The Child Helpline 1098 enables anyone to report child rights violations, child abuse and exploitation by calling a toll free number ‘1098’ from any corner of the country, through any mobile phone operator.
State minister for social welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed, secretary of the ministry Zillar Rahman, judge of the Supreme Court justice Iman Ali and on behalf of the Unicef Sara Bordas Eddy spoke at the function.
The prime minister said parents will have to be convinced that problems won’t vanish by marrying off their children. “Rather they will have to be given the ability to stand on their own feet,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said everybody will have to think that they have children, mothers and sisters. “Every male has a responsibility to ensure security for mothers and sisters, while he should also look after the safety of others,” she said.
Describing the Child Helpline-1098 as very important for the Bangladesh society, Sheikh Hasina hoped that it would help reduce child repression in the country.
Sheikh Hasina said those who misuse the helpline by giving false information would also be punished.
Sheikh Hasina opened the helpline by making a call to the call centre set up at the department of social services at Agargaon.
When the operator asked her identity, Sheikh Hasina said,  “I’m not a child, but I could be called a 70-year-old child.
I’m the Prime Minister.”
Urging those who work at the call centre to take care of child victims properly, the premier said: “You will have to be careful so that they get proper help.”
She spoke about online trials and said there will be a court room adjacent to the jail and trial of the accused would be held at that jail as there are problems in transporting such criminals from jail to the courts.
Sheikh Hasina said she has already instructed the authorities to start online trial and it’s the most important aspect of the child court.
Child Helpline 1098 has been initiated in accordance with Article 90 of the Children Act 2013 to provide a means for channelling information from vulnerable children, children in conflict or contact with law as well as information of child rights violation, to an appropriate authority and simplify the process of providing information.
The child sensitive social protection in Bangladesh project under the department of social services, ministry of social welfare, and supported by Unicef Bangladesh, had started the Child Help Line 1098 as a pilot initiative all over the country in December 2015.
To date, Child Helpline 1098 has supported the prevention of 379 child marriages and 2,070 children have been provided with health and education support as well as legal aid and reintegration services throughout the country through a referral mechanism.
The Child Helpline operates a 24-hour telephone line and provides emergency support to children at risk, as well as to concerned citizens who need to raise the alarm about certain children.
The service also links children with existing social protection services through rescue, safe shelter, referral and networking, officials said.
Newly-elected ruling Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the next general election will be held on time.
“Our party (AL) has already started preparing for the election following prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s call,” he told reporters after a meeting with Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the secretariat.
Quader’s remarks clearly indicate that the next parliamentary election in 2019 will be held under the Awami League government with Hasina as the prime minister.
About Teesta issue, he said it will be resolved very soon and prime minister Sheikh Hasina may visit India in December next.
Responding to a question about BNP’s participation in the next national election, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said they had the chance to participate in the previous election but they could not take the right decision at that time.
“If they can’t take the right decision about the upcoming polls, it’ll be a big mistake for them,” he said adding, “We’re now trying to organise our party (AL) removing all the internal problems.
We also need a strong team work to strengthen the party.”
Quader further said they need to be alert about ‘hybrid leaders’ so that they cannot isolate the dedicated party leaders.
The Indian high commissioner greeted Quader on being elected the general secretary of Awami League.
Meanwhile, Obaidul Quader yesterday termed BNP “a frustrated and devastated party” and said the activities of the party are now limited to holding press conferences.
“Their (BNP’s) activities are now limited to holding press conferences sitting at home.
They’ve no relation to the country’s people,” he said.
Quader was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyr members of Bangabandhu’s family at Banani graveyard in the city.
The ruling party general secretary said: “ The BNP should prove first that they believe in democracy.
There’s no democracy within the party itself but it talks a lot about it.
But, Awami League is a big and disciplined political party.”
The newly elected members of the Awami League central working committee were present.