After four unsuccessful attempts over a decade, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has proposed a Tk 9.81 billion project to withdraw 100,000 children from hazardous labour and ensure their rehabilitation.

Titled Child Labour Elimination and Rehabilitation, the project’s cost is over three times higher than its predecessor, implemented from 2018 to 2024.

The Planning Commission’s Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) flagged concerns over the proposal, citing excessive and unjustified costs, including Tk 3.65 billion in cash grants and Tk 3.15 billion in training wages. The committee also questioned plans to purchase 17 vehicles, despite a government ban on vehicle procurement in development projects.

Other issues noted were inflated budgets for consultancy, publicity, and foreign tours, duplication of project areas, and an unrealistic timeline. The PEC recommended using government institutions for non-formal education and focusing surveys on industrial zones.

According to the National Child Labour Survey 2022, between 2013 and 2022, the number of working children in Bangladesh increased from 3.45 million to 3.53 million, while hazardous child labour declined from 1.28 million to 1.07 million. However, non-hazardous labour rose significantly.

Experts warn that despite past investments, progress remains limited. Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, former head of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, stressed the need for structured interventions, education access, and social protection to meet the goal of eliminating child labour by 2025.