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20,000 child criminals in Bangladesh: Study
Dhaka, March 08: The number of full-time child criminals in Bangladesh living by robbery or drug-peddling has more than tripled since 1990, a study released today found.
Dhaka, March 08: The number of full-time child criminals in Bangladesh living by robbery or drug-peddling has more than tripled since 1990, a study released today found.
Some 20,000 Bangladeshi children are full-time criminals, compared with 6,000 in 1990, according to a study carried out by two Bangladeshi rights groups.
The dramatic rise comes as street children become a growing problem in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries.
Most of the child outlaws, aged between eight and 16, got their start under the patronage of hardened criminals and have developed serious drug problems, the study said.
It said 90 percent of child criminals worked in small shops, restaurants or as porters as a cover for their work.
Most of the children had carried weapons or explosives while 31 percent had used arms, including guns or knives, it said.
The study was published in the daily ‘Sangbad’ newspaper and carried out by rights groups Aparajeyo Bangla and the Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar forum.
Some 6.9 million Bangladeshis between ages five and 14 lived on the street in 2000, up from 2.5 million in 1974, according to the international labour organisation.
The dramatic rise comes as street children become a growing problem in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries.
Most of the child outlaws, aged between eight and 16, got their start under the patronage of hardened criminals and have developed serious drug problems, the study said.
It said 90 percent of child criminals worked in small shops, restaurants or as porters as a cover for their work.
Most of the children had carried weapons or explosives while 31 percent had used arms, including guns or knives, it said.
The study was published in the daily ‘Sangbad’ newspaper and carried out by rights groups Aparajeyo Bangla and the Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar forum.
Some 6.9 million Bangladeshis between ages five and 14 lived on the street in 2000, up from 2.5 million in 1974, according to the international labour organisation.
Bureau Report