The adolescents aged between 10-19 have been facing various kinds of problems that remain unattended and a national plan of action as well as adolescent friendly law is important to facilitate an environment to implement the national plan, they added.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) and ActionAid Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar to share the working experiences with the adolescents at the LGED auditorium in the city.

The speakers said the adolescent community is extremely vulnerable to sex abuse and drug addiction. It is necessary to handle them with care and transparency.

While presenting a study paper conducted on the basis of secondary data, Rafiqul Hassan of DAM said among 28 million adolescents in the country, 53 percent are male and 47 percent are female. More than one third of the adolescent girls are found married.

"Besides, discrimination in family and social life, dowry, domestic violence, social isolation, lack of awareness on rights and lack of autonomy in decision making are some of the major socio-cultural adversities that the adolescent girls are facing," he said.

"The condition of the boys are not pleasant in absence of proper guidance, support and provisions required for smooth transition to adulthood," he added.

"No effort is being taken to address the vulnerability and potentials of the adolescents and we should find out a way to integrated development approach in this regard," said Sector Head of Women's Rights of ActionAid Bangladesh Khuku Chakrabarty.

Director of Youth Development Directorate Ramani Mohan Chakma said a proper strategy is needed to work properly and it is time to find out the barriers in collaboration with the government and non-government organisations.

Media, educational institutions and other social organisations including family should be more responsive and a 'National Adolescent Forum' should be formed, the speakers said.

DAM President Kazi Rafiqul Alam presided over the function while Dr Ahmadullah Mia of DAM, Idris Mia, joint secretary of youth and sports ministry and Rina Parveen, deputy secretary of the establishment ministry, also spoke on the occasion.