Child Helpline 1098 has been launched across the country with the support of UNICEF under the Department of Social Services of the Ministry of Social Welfare. If any child in any part of the country is a victim of any kind of violence, torture and exploitation, the child himself or any other person can call 1098 helpline for free and ask for help. In this case, the way to seek your remedy will be easier.
The Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare launched the nationwide 'Child help line 1098' on a trial basis from last December 2015 with the financial and technical support of UNICEF to ensure the rights of the child and the social facilities of the child in accordance with the Child Act 2013. Later, the Hon'ble Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina announced the nationwide launch of 'Child help line 1098' on 26 October 2018 through video conference from Ganobhaban. Toll free short code '1098' through child marriage, child labor, child abuse,Necessary services are being provided round the clock (24X7) to ensure the rights of the child and the social benefits of the child by collecting and storing information regarding child rights violations like 'Child help line 1098'. A Centralized Call Center (CCC) of the child help line has been set up on the 7th floor of the Department of Social Services, Agargaon, Dhaka. The call center is open 24 hours a day, including public and weekly holidays.
What is 1096 helpline ?
It is a system or service that extends a helping hand, protecting the child from all kinds of influences or stress, while protecting all kinds of privacy. People get help from 1098 helpline through ordinary phone . You can receive the service by calling 1098 helpline from any part of the country in 24 hours .
Why 1098 helpline is needed ?
Many times children or adults need their problems or protection - they can't tell friends or family. For example, teenagers are afraid to tell anyone if they are victims of eve-teasing. Everyone thinks that no one else will understand their problems, or that everyone around them will treat them differently if they talk about their own problems. In some cases, even the most sensitive issues we do not want to share with people close to us. Many times children cannot speak openly or have no clear idea of how to express themselves. In such cases, remedies can be found with the help of the helpline.
What does the 1096 helpline help?
- Helpline 1096 helps prevent child abuse, child trafficking, child marriage and provide legal services to children ;
- 1096 Helpline provides telephone counseling services in addition to emergency services / rescue of the child through the telephone service;
- Helps children connect with existing social protections in society through safe shelter, rehabilitation and network coverage.
How does the 1098 helpline help ?
- When someone asks for help from the 1098 helpline, a social worker first introduces them.
- The helpline is then asked to identify the helper according to its own rules and what kind of help they want.
- If the help seeker seeks help with a child, he or she will be provided with assistance according to his or her needs. In this case, the phone call continues until the help seeker is spoken to.
- The social worker can ask about the name, age and place of residence of a helper, if anyone does not want to reveal his name, identity, or is reluctant to disclose, then the 1098 helpline cooperates in secret.
- The confidentiality of the information of the help seeker given to the 1098 helpline will be protected, the matter is also made clear in this case.
- Assists the help seeker (for the child) what kind of assistance is required and requests the appropriate local authorities (Deputy Commissioner, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Police, Probation Officer) to take urgent action.
- At the same time, the social worker tries to ensure the necessary services of the child by following up with all concerned in order to ensure the safety of the child.
Achieved Child Helpline-1096
(December 2015 to November 2018)
- Accepted 229484 calls
- Remedy for 1891 incidents of child abuse
- 69 family problems solved
- Transfer to safe shelter or family of 2421 homeless and helpless children.
- Legal assistance to 10522 children
- Provide health information and advice to 9160 children
- Assistance to 2614 children in school by contacting school teachers, managing committee and parents
- 226 Referral to the Center for Counseling and Healing on Drug and Other Drug Use and Harm
- Stopping child marriages of 1526 children
Case Study 1: Ensuring the legal rights of four children
Rahima (12), Kali (10), Mumtaz (9) and Taslima (12) are all living with their parents in Bu Bazar area of Hazaribagh area. Their parents are very poor, some drive rickshaws or work as day laborers. On the afternoon of March 8, 2018, a person informed by phone that the said children were victims of sexual abuse. Mizan, aged about 42, has a hotel business in Bou Bazar area. Caller said a local arbitration was arranged and the rapist was released with a slap in the face. Parents are not satisfied with the decision and seek the help of the Child Helpline. They want a legal solution.
The helpline issue was immediately reported to the Probation Officer and later to the caller along with the OC of Hazaribagh Police Station through caller conference. A case of sexual harassment was registered on March 8, 2016 with the help of Hazaribagh Police Station OC. Through continuous communication between the probation officer and the helpline, the police were able to arrest the torturer Mizan on March 8, 2016 at 9 pm.
On March 9, 2016, the father of a child, Mr. Abdur Rahim, called the helpline and said that he did not have the financial means to hire a lawyer to handle the case due to financial difficulties. In order to resolve the issue expeditiously, the caller was briefed on the whole matter through a conference with Mr. Advocate Alauddin Khan (01712723256), Chairman of the Law Support Center for Human Rights and assistance was sought for handling the case. Advocate Alauddin Khan agreed to assist in handling the case and appeared in court on the same day.
After a long legal process, the wise court sentenced the perpetrator. The children are currently with their parents and go to school regularly.
- Children's pseudonyms have been used for the protection of the child.
- Reporter, Mosammat Samsi Ara Begum, Helpline Officer, Department of Social Services
Case Study-2: From the Railroad to Peace
When a seven-month-old baby was found lying near the Comilla railway station, the locals, with the help of police, handed over the baby to a nearby family. The baby's face is scarred and can't lift a leg (disabled). When the local child-friendly police officer informed Mr. Nurul Amin, the probation officer of Comilla social service, about the unidentified child, he first searched for the child's family. Unable to find a family, he sent the child to Chhotamani Nibas in Dhaka, run by the Department of Social Services, through the court for long-term protection and shelter.
The child was sent back to the Comilla Probation Officer as there was no provision of specialized services for the disabled child in Chhotamani Nibas. The probation officer placed the child in the family where the child was initially sheltered for interim care. The probation officer resumed contact with various government and non-government organizations seeking safe haven to protect the best interests of the child, all of whom expressed inability to accept the child.
At that time the child was temporarily in a family where they were very poor, they started using the child for begging. Let the Probation Officer in charge of the state apparatus for the protection of the child finally surrender to the Director General (DG) of the Department of Social Services, Mr. Gazi Mohammad Nurul Kabir (Additional Secretary). As per the immediate instructions of the DG, the probation officer called the social service, child helpline-1098 on December 26 and asked for help for the safe shelter of the child.
After the helpline receives all of the child's information, the Resource Directory contacts the various service providers. Finally, on December 29, 2016, the deputy director of Mother Teresa, a non-governmental organization working with abandoned children, expressed interest in adopting the child. Following the legal process of the court on the application of the company, on 16 January 2016, the wise court allowed the child to be sent to Mother Teresa (a private company).
On 16 January 2017, the child was brought directly from Comilla to Dhaka to the institution. The child was officially handed over to Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa, 26 Islampur Road, Dhaka under the supervision of City Social Service Office-3, Dhaka. The baby was named Khadija. At present the child is growing up beautifully in Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa.
- Reporter: Noorani Begum, Helpline Officer, Department of Social Services
Case Study-3: Prevention of Child Marriage
Shishu Nasima Akhter (15), father Arman Hossain, mother Maryam Begum, lived in the 4th quarter of Hardaha Glass Factory, KM Das Lane, Dhaka-1203, 27/2 under Wari Police Station, Ward 39, Dhaka City Corporation. He was transferred to Tikatuli Shaheed Nabi High School. Her mother is desperate to get her married while her class roll-4, the child's first interim examination is going on.
On March 23, 2018 at 12:46 pm, Ward Vision worker Meghla called Bangladesh Child Helpline-1098 and informed that her younger sister's girlfriend Nasima Akter was wearing yellow this evening and got married tomorrow. Her mother got a good son so she arranged the marriage without the permission of the child's father. Kalar wants the help of 1096 to stop child marriage.
The child's marriage is immediately discussed with the head teacher and assistant teacher of the child's school. The assistant teacher informed that he was taking the child to his aunt's house in Lakshi Bazar of Sritrapur for marriage.
Later, information was given to Mr. Nurul Islam, Social Service Officer, Social Service Office-1, Dhaka District and OC of Wari Police Station to take necessary steps to stop child marriage.
In collaboration with Social Service Officer Nurul Islam and the police station, Shishu Priya along with local dignitaries of the area where the marriage was arranged informed the father of the child about the harmful aspects of marriage and legal issues. The child's parents finally realized and wrote to the effect that if the child does not reach the age of 18, then there is no thought of any kind of marriage before him. The social services officer assures the family that the parent will be assisted if any assistance is required for the child's education. This is how Nasima Akhter's marriage ended. She is currently attending school regularly.
- Children's pseudonyms have been used for the protection of the child.
- Reporter: Nazneen Sultana, Helpline Officer, Helpline Officer, Department of Social Services
Special needs communication
Child Sensitive Social Protection in Bangladesh (CSPB) Project
Department of Social Services (8th Floor)
E-6 / B-1, Agargaon, Dhaka
Phone: 56153535, 56152842
Planning and Implementation: Cabinet Division, A2I, BCC, DoICT and BASIS
Technical Assistance:
