Unicef has urged the government of Bangladesh to increase budgetary allocation for child-related initiatives from 14 percent in 2016 to 20 percent by 2020.
The call was made at the launch of “Shishuder Budget Patth Shohaika (Child Friendly Version of the National Budget of Bangladesh’)”, a joint publication prepared by the Finance Division and Unicef Bangladesh at the CIRDAP conference hall in the city on Wednesday. Finance Minister AMA Muhith launched the publication. State Minister for Finance MA Mannan, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Nasima Begum, Secretary, Finance Division Mahbub Ahmed and Unicef Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder were also present. “The national budget is an important instrument in ensuring adequate and equitable resource allocation for children. It is now increasingly acknowledged that children hold the key to development. No investment will be more effective and efficient than to invest in children to give them a good start in life,” Beigbeder was quoted as saying in a statement. Beigbeder also suggested the establishment of a permanent Child Focus Budget Unit at the Finance Division to provide technical support to all other relevant ministries/agencies. The publication has been prepared to increase awareness on public finance processes among adolescent boys and girls and the impact it has on their wellbeing.
The Finance Division, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education, has decided to distribute and discuss the contents of the publication in all secondary educational institutions to empower adolescents to contribute more in raising their needs in a systematic manner while having consultation with them on budgetary discussions in coming years. At the same time, the Finance Division with the support of Unicef is enhancing the capacity of seven ministries (e.g. Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Social Welfare, and Local Government Division) to create better awareness about child focused budgeting.
