Throughout 2014, Bangladesh continued to make steady progress in human development, as evident from a number of indicators such as reduction of underfive child mortality rates, infant mortality rates, improvement in school enrolment, reducing dropout of students in primary and secondary level schools, minimize the underage marriages especially of girl child, immunization coverage, vitamin A supplementation coverage and safe drinking water supply. Discrimination between boys and girls as regards access to education has been eliminated to a great extent. The country retained its GDP growth rate at over 6% despite global slowdown. There was overall growth in export, investment, per capita income and calorie consumption. The country has been on track to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals. Like preceding years, the Government also in 2014 demonstrated her utmost commitment to implement birth registration of every child within Bangladesh, including the children born to the refugee families. Remarkable progress has been made in reducing child and maternal death rates. About 87% children have come under the Expanded Program on Immunization [EPI]. Child Marriage has declined to 29%. JAMAKON appreciates that the Government sets the target to eliminate marriage of girls below 15 years by 2031 and girls between 15 to 19 years by 2045. In addition, JAMAKON took note of the fact that that the Government is sincerely trying to eradicate child labour from sectors, such as ready-made garment industries. In 2014, JAMAKON organized several meetings and workshops on combating child marriage, trafficking of children, and eradication of child labour in particular child domestic workers and submitted specific recommendations to the Government on the proposed law on Prevention of Child Marriage, child labour elimination policy, Anti Trafficking Act. Remarkable progress was made in elimination of illiteracy from the country. The Government delivered free textbooks to the students of primary and secondary level including Madrasa and technical educational institutions. Moreover, the Government is currently providing subsidies to provide education to the poor girls and boys. Following the Education Master plan (2012-2021), a total number of 20500 Multimedia Classrooms has been established in 500 schools, 15,200 secondary schools and 5,300 Madrasas in 2014. More than 300 e-versions of textbooks are available in primary and secondary levels including technical, vocational and Madrasa education. In the financial year 2013-2014, about 3.52 million students received TK. 8802.70 million as stipends and in other forms of assistance. It is to be noted that about 75% of them especially at secondary level are female. In 2014, Bangladesh signed the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) which will enter into force after one year therefrom. The Government has been working to support the victims of Rana Plaza incidents. A Coordination Unit on Rehabilitation of Victims of Rana Plaza disaster helped rehabilitation of more than 1,700 persons. In 2014, the Government took significant initiatives for ensuring for ensuring safety and welfare of RMG workers in a number of areas. They are: (a) Building, Fire and Electricity Safety Assessments, (b) Labour Inspection and OSH, (c) Employer and Workers Organizations and OSH, (d) Fire Safety, (e) Better Work Program, (f ) Dispute Resolution and Trade Union Registration, (g) Workers’ Education and Trade Union Rights, and (h) Skills Development in the RMG Sector. National Human Rights Commission (JAMAKON) Annual Report 2014 7