Bangladesh to have first ever children's budget

In the light of the growing demand for separate allocation for children in the national budget, the Bangladeshi government has initiated a move to have the country's first ever children's budget in the next fiscal year beginning in July.

According to a finance ministry official, the first ever children's budget will be put in place with the next 2015-16 (July 2015-June 2016) fiscal year's national budget proposals which are to be tabled in parliament on Thursday.

In his budget speech on Thursday, Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith would give some directives regarding the separate budget for children, said the official who did not like to be named.

The official said the modalities of the children's budget have been prepared.

"We've taken suggestions from organizations and individuals working for welfare of children," Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying

He said the children's budget would describe major programmes to better serve children.

Rights bodies have long been demanding that there should be specific allocation for children in the national budget to ensure adequate services for all children and establish their rights in the country.

They said issues related to child rights are dealt with the funds from other sectors as there is no specific budgetary allocation for the country's children who are the future of the nation.