The document examines definitions of children from global and Bangladeshi perspectives. It discusses how children are defined biologically and socially, as well as how the definition is changing. The Bangladesh government approved a new National Child Policy to address challenges like different age limits set in laws. The policy aims to redefine a child as under 18 and keep children out of the workforce. While changing definitions presents challenges, partnerships like one between Telenor and UNICEF show promise in helping children in Bangladesh.

1. “Revisiting the definition of children: Contextualizing
Bangladesh”
Shidratul Moontaha Suha
Lecturer, Department of Development Studies,
Bangladesh University of Professionals,
Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh,
Email: moontaha.suha@bup.edu.bd ,
suha_dsdu30@yahoo.com

2. KEY WORDS: CHILDREN, NATIONAL CHILD POLICY, SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
Abstract
To be very brief, this paper examined the definition of a child from a global perspective,
then from Bangladesh perspective. This paper underscored the biological and social
definitions, structure and the changing definition of a child, identifies cabinet approves
National Child Policy, its challenges, Bangladesh government’s new National Child Policy and
suggests some policy measures to improve this huge disparity and finally a success story in
tackling child under-nutrition. For fulfilling these objectives, I have collected a few books
related to the area of my interest from various sources including the archive of Daily Star,
some articles and journal from online resource center and so on. For the purpose of
convenience and better report, the findings from the sites visited have been clustered data
analysis. The major limitation I have found was there’s not a concrete definition for
identifying children. It was found that with the ultimate goal of creating a sustainable
system, it could be helping and then teaching children to do the same. The authority, as well
as the Government of Bangladesh, should come forward with a strategic plan to address the
issue of the street children.

3. Research Objective(s)
Main objectives of my research are:
 To find out the meaning of child in
Bangladesh.
 To realize that how concerned should we
be.
 To find the position of Bangladesh in
terms of preparedness.
 To depict the government’s role.

4. Research Methodology
The research has been broadly divided into two parts
.1.Collection of secondary information, and 2. data analysis.
Step 1 Collection
of
secondary
information
I have collected few books related to
the area of my interest from various
sources including archive of Daily star,
some articles and journal from online
resource center and so on.
Step 2 Data
analysis
For the purpose of convenience and
better analysis, the findings from the
sites visited have been clustered as
texts.

5. Legal, Biological, and Social Definitions
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
defines a child as "a human being below the age of 18 years unless
under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.
“Biologically, a child is anyone between birth and puberty or in the
developmental stage of childhood, between infancy and
adulthood. Children generally have fewer rights than adults and
are classed as not able to make serious decisions, and legally must
always be under the care of a responsible adult.

6. Who is a Child in Bangladesh?
 According to the Bangladesh Penal Code, a child under
the seven cannot be punished for an offence.
 “The government is encouraging child labour by setting
different age limits for children in different acts,” says
Director of Bangladesh Child Rights Forum Mohammad
Asgar Ali. He says:
“Besides fixing the child’s age limit,
the government should also make birth registration
compulsory. In our country it is difficult to prove the exact
age of a child for lack of his or her birth certificate.”

7. Con…
Bangladesh is not the only country where age limit
creates problems. We can see the same image in many
other countries of the world.
Angela Melchiorre’s research, ‘At What Age’ reveals that
in 25 countries of the world there is no set age limit for
compulsory primary education for children. In 33
countries, there is no minimum age for work and in 44
countries where girls are allowed to marry earlier than
boys.

8. Cabinet Approves National Child Policy
 The Bangladesh government has pledged a policy that
redefines a 'child' as anyone below 18 and they would be kept
out of the work force. Some outlines of a national children
policy were announced on May Day.
 Bangladesh has a 3.2 million child work force as per 2003
statistics. Of them, 1.29 million children are involved in
hazardous work, and the new policy would have direct impact
upon them.
 The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), which
has prepared the draft policy, is now set to have a national-
level consultation meeting in early May 2010 . The ministry
would then forward the draft to the cabinet for approval,
officials said. Approval of the policy would lead to review of
different laws that define various ages of childhood.

9. Changing the Definition of a Child:
Bangladesh Scenario
Telenor and UNICEF partnership shows
promise after one year of helping
children in Bangladesh.
Challenges

10. Conclusion: New Policy Focuses
On Ultra Poor Children
Bangladesh: A Success Story in Tackling
Child Under-Nutrition
The Best Place for Children to Work Is School