2 hrs ago

Bangladesh Faces Growing Crisis of Juvenile Violence and Crime

Bangladesh Faces Growing Crisis of Juvenile Violence and Crime
Bangladesh confronts growing crisis of juvenile violence · thehansindia.com

Bangladesh is worried about more violence involving children and teenagers.

The murder of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apratim has brought fresh attention to the problem.

Experts say children may be affected by poverty, unemployment, dropping out of school and child labour.

Some teenagers are also joining groups that encourage aggressive or criminal behavior.

Social media can make violence seem attractive when young people want attention or to look cool.

Experts say families, schools and communities should notice problems early and support vulnerable children.

They also say the government must provide safe places, education and better opportunities.

Juvenile justice should focus on helping children change instead of only punishing them.

Key facts

Victim
Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, 13
Incident location
Cumilla district, Bangladesh
Main concern
Growing violence involving children and adolescents
Identified social factors
Poverty, unemployment, school dropouts, child labour and child marriage
Reported online influence
TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube may help normalize aggression or encourage attention-seeking violence
Proposed response
Coordination among families, schools, communities, law enforcement and the state
Juvenile justice concern
Bangladesh reportedly lacks adequate juvenile detention facilities and sufficient emphasis on rehabilitation

Quotes

A I Mahbub Uddin Ahmed

Dhaka University honorary and supernumerary professor

“The solution, therefore, cannot lie in policing alone. We must address the conditions that shape behaviour from childhood: the family, education, economic opportunity and the wider social environment. Unless these foundations are strengthened and young people are given positive alternatives, violence and crime will continue to emerge as symptoms of deeper social and institutional failures.”
thehansindia.com
“Ultimately, preventing juvenile crime requires coordination between families, schools, communities, law-enforcement agencies and the state. If these institutions work separately, the problem will continue to reproduce itself. If they work together, intervention can begin before vulnerable children become involved in serious crime.”
thehansindia.com

Sources

Related news