Foreign Ministry: Save the Children report misleading, incorrect

Published at 04:22 am May 15th, 2020

aid to poor-food -poverty-mehedi hasan dt

File photo: Children receive food aid in Dhaka during coronavirus pandemic Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune

Save the Children expresses regret in a press statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has termed the recent survey report of Save the Children on Bangladesh "misleading," noting that the survey failed to depict the actual situation of the country.

The ministry on Thursday said the methodology of the survey was "incorrect" with "faulty" sampling framework, reports UNB.

The "so-called" survey reflected researchers’ gap of understanding and questioned the "goodwill and credibility" of Save the Children.

The Foreign Ministry in a media release said the acting chief of the Save the Children in Bangladesh wholeheartedly regretted for such misleading information when the ministry wanted to know the matter.

The so-called survey does not represent around 60.5 million children of the country, and in no way reflect the overall situation of the country, the media release said.

The “Child Perception Survey” was prepared based on telephone conversation with only 121 children.

Based on that survey, Save the Children on Tuesday said at least 64% children from marginalized groups and their families are currently facing severe food crisis amid Bangladesh’s general holiday to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The data were collected from 121 children aged between 10-18 in urban slums, tea gardens and disadvantaged rural areas, the organization said in a press release.

It showed that food scarcity in the families have reached to critical stage as earning members are jobless.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Save the Children said the full details of the survey had not been published in some media outlets.

As a result, some confusion was created, for which Save the Children expressed deep regret, adding the survey in no way reflects the plight of the children across Bangladesh.

Save the Children supports the steps taken by the Bangladesh government to tackle the Covid-19 crisis, and it is ready to assist the government in creating health, safety and public awareness in this regard, the statement said.