Save the Children has called upon the government and all political parties to protect the children from the impacts of the country's political violence.

In a statement on Tuesday, Save the Children voiced concern at the impacts of the ongoing political unrest and violence on the children of Bangladesh.

It said children have been killed and injured as a result of arson attacks on transport, crude bomb attacks and other kinds of violence. From the beginning of this year until 11 February, some 11 children have been killed and 12 others injured due to hartal/blockade-related violence. Children have also been used in rallies and attacks on transport.

In addition, the current political tension has had a major impact on children's education. Schools have largely been closed from Sunday to Thursday for the last one and half months. All children have missed classes, and many have had their exams rescheduled, the statement said.

‘Beyond the immediate impact on safety, health and wellbeing, we’re apprehensive about the psychological impact of the violence on children. Research indicates that children who live in a climate of fear can change in a number of ways as a result of that exposure to violence. Studies have found that persistent fear and the neurophysiological adaptations to this fear can alter the development of the child's brain, resulting in changes in physiological, emotional, behavioural, cognitive and social functioning,’ the statement reads.

It is well known that children raised in a consistently violent environment are much more likely to be violent. However, young children exposed to chronic violence may also 'tune out' as a self-preservation strategy. If they lose hope in mainstream political processes, they may even turn to more extreme elements.

Save the Children strongly feels that the key actors involved in the current crisis are not doing enough to avoid harming children. ‘Sadly, there seems to be indifference to the safety and wellbeing of children.’

‘We, therefore, appeal to all parties to the current conflict to make their top priority the protection of the physical and psychological health and ensuring access to educational opportunities for the children of this great country,’ the statement said.