Three celebrities have been appointed as Unicef national goodwill ambassadors to uphold child rights. The goodwill ambassadors — cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, film actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi and magician Jewel Aich — were introduced at a ceremony at a hotel in the capital yesterday. As Unicef ambassadors, they will work with the organisation to promote child rights, create mass awareness and promote positive social norms in critical areas such as child labour, child marriage, violence against children, maternal and child health and social protection of children living in urban slums.
Expressing contentment after getting an offer to work for children, Shakib said it was necessary to stand beside street children as they cannot get access to education due to their parents’ poverty.
“We need to start working for the street children. I want those children to be more famous players than us, and even journalists and national leaders,” Shakib said.
“There are many talents among our underprivileged children who do not get any nutrition and education,” said Jewel Aich.
Moushumi said it was embarrassing that the society does not show due respect to the children especially the female children although women contribute in different fields.
“We all must be sympathetic and reverential to children and women. If we can do this, our country will move forward,” she mentioned.
Unicef claims an estimated 17 million children are living under the poverty threshold in Bangladesh.
Unicef Bangladesh Representative Pascal Villeneuve also spoke.
-With The Daily Star input
