“Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life” seminar held in Dhaka organized by SHI & ELCOP

SHI Bangladesh > News > Programm > “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life” seminar held in Dhaka organized by SHI & ELCOP
On Saturday, 9th April a seminar titled “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life” was held at Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA), Dhanmondi. The seminar was organized by Sports for Hope and Independence Bangladesh & Empowerment through Law of the Common People- ELCOP .
Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman, ELCOP and former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was the Honorable guest of Chair of the Seminar. Mr. Utpal Shuvro, Senior Sports Journalist, Daily Prothom Alo was the Guest of Honor while Dr. Leanne O’Leary, Senior Lecturer in Law, Edge Hill University, had joined the seminar virtually as a Speaker.
Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul, Executive Director, ELCOP had presented a paper in the titled “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life”. His presentation was based on the question whether there is a connection between sport and life. He has mentioned that there are 1.5 million street children in 2015 and they are practically deleted from everywhere. Also mentioning the Olympic Charter, European Charter, UNESCO Charter of Physical Education, and the Constitution of Bangladesh, he said that there are lacunas in national and international instruments. He has suggested including these children in the national budget.
Mr. Pappu Modak from SHI had presented a paper titled “Challenges of Street Children in Bangladesh and their Right to Sports”. He has mentioned that 85% of street children are addicted to drugs and is a subject to regular abuse. He has promoted sports by saying that it helps to build universal value of respect, it can help to make more friends, etc. He has complained about the cut of 356 Crore taka for the sports sector in our national budget and also the inactivity of the Sports Ministry regarding the street children for the last 18 years. He has highlighted the lack of open space, lack of equipment and financial crisis in Bangladesh.
Famous sports commentator Mr. Rabiul Islam complained about the lack of applicability of the Preamble of UN Charter. He also said that many famous sportsmen have been brought up from the streets. He has required a voice to be arisen.

Dr. Leanne O’Leary, Senior Lecturer in Law, Edge Hill University, UK mentioned a South African study conducted in 2008 for saying that the street child requires emotional support. Mentioning Olympic movement and the Olympic Charter, she said that this charter does not apply to the street children. Mentioning Article 2 of the IOC she said that this charter only binds the ones who are within the charter and it does not provide anything for the street children. She also mentioned that right to play is not a luxury.

After that there is a ‘Open Discussion’ session. Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman answered the questions in his part.
Mr. Utpal Shuvro, renowned sports journalist of the Daily Prothom Alo, opined that the right to play is not just for the street children but for all the humans of every age. He opined that sports are a miniature of life and he roughly said that 82% of Bangladeshi people are not involved in sports. He has complained that the playing fields are being occupied; the schools of Dhaka do not have any field, and the culture of sports have destroyed. He has mentioned the Brazilian scenarios of promoting sports among the under-privileged children.

Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman have opined that there are several kinds of discrimination and attitude in Bangladesh, and it was the first time that there is a talk on the right of the street children in Bangladesh. He also told that we can call us as civilized society only when we call cut the word ‘street’ from the phrase ‘street children’. Mentioning about the scenario of Russia in the Winter Olympics, he regretted that sport should not be the part of politics. He also told that the change in the system will not come all by itself; power must be confronted with power. He also said that Bangladesh is not a poor country, it has resources but it is being misused. He has urged for the

proper distribution of wealth in the society.
Last of all, Dr. S.M. Masum Billah, Associate Professor, Department of Law, Jagannath University, and Director of Human Rights Summer School, ELCOP had made the closing remarks and propose the vote of thanks.

Leave a Reply