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Laila Khondkar

Orphanages.jpg

Good intentions are not enough: Why Bangladesh should rethink orphanages

8 August 2026
While working in Liberia between 2013 and 2014, I had the opportunity, together with my colleagues, to support the government in implementing its deinstitutionalisation policy.
8 August 2026
prevention_of_child_marriage_needs_a_new_narrative.png

The dreams of girls in a Bangladesh river char

18 July 2026
The younger a girl is when she gets married, the lower the dowry. That is why parents arrange child marriages.
18 July 2026
OP2__CHILD_LABOUR_DAY.jpg

World Day Against Child Labour / We cannot achieve development while children remain at work

12 June 2026
Despite progress in some parts of the world, child labour remains a stark reality for millions of children globally.
12 June 2026
OP_2_corporal_punishment.jpg

Int’l Day Against Corporal Punishment of Children / Time is ticking on ending corporal punishment in Bangladesh

30 April 2026
The widespread social acceptance of corporal punishment indicates how violence has become normalised in child-rearing.
30 April 2026
OE - Child abuse - BADHON.png

Ending child abuse is imperative. Can the new government rise to the challenge?

11 March 2026
All forms of violence against children are preventable. What has been missing is consistent political will. The newly elected government has the mandate and the moral responsibility to lead.
11 March 2026
inclusive_society.jpg

To create an inclusive society, we must change our mindset

23 August 2025
We need internal reform if we are to create a society that is liveable for all.
23 August 2025
Time to end the harmful practice of child domestic work

Time to end the harmful practice of child domestic work

5 July 2025
The government has declared 43 types of work as hazardous for children—jobs that threaten their physical and mental development.
5 July 2025
corporal punishment

We must end corporal punishment of children

24 May 2025
Daily acts of punishment cause thousands of injuries and deaths among children each year.
24 May 2025
820bop_2_braille_books_at_boi_mela_prabir_das_file_21022025_155d_sbs.jpg

We need literature for all people, in all languages

In Bangladesh, visually challenged people have little access to the rich world of literature, an exclusion that limits their ability to experience the joy of storytelling.
22 February 2025
boi_mela_4.jpg

A vision for a child-friendly book fair

Are we truly creating an environment that fosters love for books among children?
25 January 2025
Protecting adolescents from the harm of social media

Protecting adolescents from the harm of social media

Studies reveal startling trends: adolescents spending over three hours daily on social media are twice as likely to face anxiety and depression.
13 January 2025
Bring back married adolescent girls to schools

Bring back married adolescent girls to schools

Child marriage in Bangladesh hinders girls' education and lifelong opportunities.
5 December 2024
Conversation about youth mental health must evolve

Conversation about youth mental health must evolve

In Bangladesh, 361 students, a significant percentage of whom were elementary students, succumbed to suicide between January and August in 2023.
6 November 2024
girls_education.jpg

We must help girls realise their dreams

It is our responsibility to make society safe for girls by strengthening child protection system at the community and national levels.
30 September 2024
win_an_argument.png

A tolerant society must respect differing opinions

Listening to others does not mean agreeing with them, but acknowledging that different opinions exist and seeking to understand them is crucial.
24 August 2024
Gender stereotypes must go

Let’s end the ‘princessification’ of girls, ‘machofication’ of boys

Children are born with immense potential. Isn’t it a tremendous waste of human capacity to confine them to limited roles?
13 July 2024
Don't children have the right to privacy?

Don't children have the right to privacy?

At the registration desk of a private hospital in Dhaka, an employee loudly asked for personal information.
13 June 2024
Protecting the best interests of children during divorce

Protecting the best interests of children during divorce

Many have witnessed physical and emotional abuse taking place in the relationship between their parents.
1 June 2024
VISUAL: SHAIKH SULTANA JAHAN BADHON

Ending corporal punishment needs a change in mindset

More than 1.3 billion children aged between one and 14 years are subjected to corporal punishment at home each year.
30 April 2024
The case for child-friendly infrastructure

The case for child-friendly infrastructure

Child-friendly infrastructure, design, and services require little to no cost if we only care to look at things through the eyes of a child.
24 March 2024
Climate change is fuelling child marriage in Bangladesh

Climate change is fuelling child marriage in Bangladesh

Climate change adaptation programmes must support efforts that promote greater access to quality education for adolescent girls.
29 February 2024
Contain the spread of fast food before it’s too late

Save children from the spread of fast food

Research shows that eating fast food has a direct correlation with weight gain
1 February 2024
Harvard University campus.

Applying to Harvard University: Tips for a successful application

Having an advanced degree from a reputed university will significantly add to your learning and help you realise your professional dreams and ambitions. So, invest time and energy in the process. 
17 January 2024
Rohingya children

The statelessness of Rohingya children and the world’s responsibility

States can end the statelessness of Rohingya children if they want to.
14 March 2023
spectrum4.jpg

Creating an autism-friendly society

“During the lockdown, our teachers offered online classes, but it was extremely challenging for autistic children to understand the instructions through a screen.
1 April 2022
Boi Mela is bringing kids to books

Boi Mela is bringing kids to books. We can take this further.

“During school holidays, my coaching centre is closed. I encourage students to read books, play or do things they really enjoy.
5 March 2022
listening-our-adolescents.jpg

Are we listening to our adolescents?

To understand what our adolescents dream about the future, researchers at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the finance ministry conducted an explorative survey between August and September 2021.
11 February 2022
corporal-punishment.jpg

Not just law, we need social change to end corporal punishment

Corporal punishment is defined as any punishment in which physical force is used with the intent to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light.
12 January 2022

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