At least 32 children were killed in Bangladesh during the quota reform protests in July with many more injured and detained, said UNICEF regional director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera.
In a statement, he also urged the authorities to reopen all schools, restart learning, and reunite children with their friends and teachers to help children recover from violence and keep them safe.
He mentioned that 30 million students from pre-primary to secondary levels missed 10 days of school.
The UNICEF on Friday issued the statement after Sanjay Wijesekera returned from a weeklong visit in Bangladesh.
Until August 1, at least 214 people were killed during the student protests for quota reform in government jobs started since July 1.
鈥楿NICEF has now confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during July鈥檚 protests, with many more injured and detained. This is a terrible loss.聽 UNICEF condemns all acts of violence. On behalf of UNICEF, I extend my heartfelt condolences to families mourning the loss of their sons and daughters,鈥� the statement read.
In the statement, Sanjay said that he was aware of reports that children were being detained, and reminded authorities that for a child, coming into contact or conflict with the law can be very frightening.
鈥楿NICEF urges an end to the detention of children in all its forms,鈥� it said, adding, 鈥榯his means that children should not be arrested or detained based on their mere presence in any location or because of their background, religion, or acts or beliefs of their family members.鈥�
He also said in the statement that he visited the UNICEF-supported Child Helpline 1098 that has seen a 250 per cent increase in demand since the violence started.
In addition, 1,100 social workers, trained by the UNICEF, under the Department of Social Services, were providing psychosocial help for children whose mental health was affected by the violence and curfews, he continued.聽
鈥極ne of the best ways to help children recover from violence and to keep them safe is to reopen all schools, restart learning, and reunite children with their friends and teachers,鈥� he said in the statement, adding, 鈥�30 million students from pre-primary to secondary school have missed 10 days of school.鈥�
The statement also read that these learning losses were compounded by school closures earlier this year due to heat, cyclones and floods.
鈥榃hile UNICEF welcomes the reopening of primary schools in many parts of Bangladesh from 4 August, there will still be around 15.5 million school children who are unable to resume learning,鈥� it said and added that, 鈥榯he longer children are out of school, especially girls, the less likely they are to return, jeopardising their future.鈥�
The regional director mentioned that in his meetings with the government, UNICEF partners and organisations working for and with young people, he emphasised that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.
鈥楥hildren and young people are the future of Bangladesh. They should be protected when they speak up,鈥� the statement concluded.
On July 28, the government disclosed that 147 people, including ordinary people, students, police, and ruling Awami League activists, were killed across the country in the violence.
Cabinet secretary Md Mahbub Hossain on July 29 said that the official death toll reached 150.
