By Maksuda Lisa (Dhaka Bureau)
In recent years, Bangladesh has witnessed an alarming decline across various social security indicators. Incidents of child abuse, rape, domestic violence, and sexual harassment in educational institutions are constantly making headlines nationwide. According to social analysts and psychologists, this terrifying rise in crime is driven primarily by four core catalysts: uncontrolled drug addiction, moral degradation, a lack of social surveillance, and a long-standing culture of impunity.
The Onslaught of Drugs and the Psychology of Crime
The availability of narcotics in Bangladesh has reached unprecedented levels, spreading from urban centers to the remotest rural villages. Drugs ranging from Yaba, marijuana, and Phensedyl to the highly lethal ‘Ice’ (Crystal Meth) are currently engulfing a vast segment of the youth and younger population.
Experts point out that drug addiction completely shatters an individual’s sanity and capacity for self-control. This breeds a distorted and violent mindset within society, with women and children becoming the easiest targets. Crime analyses reveal that the vast majority of sexual violence and mugging incidents in the country are directly or indirectly linked to drug abuse. In the words of sociologists, ‘Drugs do not just destroy an individual; they paralyze a family, a society, and an entire generation.’
Why Can’t the Drug Syndicate Be Stopped?
Despite repeated drives by law enforcement agencies, the failure to eradicate narcotics stems from the existence of a highly powerful and well-organized syndicate. This network involves complicity across various influential strata of society. When a criminal enterprise becomes immensely lucrative, temporary crackdowns are insufficient to suppress it. Breaking this cycle is impossible without deep-rooted, long-term political will capable of uprooting the network entirely.
When the Sanctity of Safe Havens is Questioned
The most devastating blow has struck the realm of morality. Horrific incidents of child sodomy and sexual abuse are coming to light even in spaces traditionally considered the safest for children, it such as madrasas, orphanages, residential schools, and religious institutions.
However, social analysts caution that it is unjust to put the entire religious education system or the scholar community on trial for isolated crimes. The majority of religious institutions in the country continue to uphold moral and humanitarian values. The real crisis lies in the lack of internal accountability and strict institutional monitoring.
Root Causes Behind These Crimes:
* Abuse of Power: Exploiting authoritative or guardian-like positions to hold children hostage.
* Misuse of Technology: Unrestricted access to the internet, pornography, and violent content, which distorts healthy human psychology.
* Social Stigma: Victimised children often remain silent due to fear and social shame, which emboldens perpetrators.
Crime Knows No Attire or Profession; A Criminal is Simply a ‘Criminal’
Human rights activists and social analysts firmly assert that crime carries no specific attire, religion, or professional identity. Whether the perpetrator is a teacher, an Imam, a politician, a physician, or an ordinary citizen, they are solely a criminal in the eyes of the law. Society must break away from the culture of shielding criminals behind the cover of power or institutional attire.
The Way Forward: Demands of Conscious Citizens
To break free from this deep social malady, post-incident protests or human chains alone are not enough. A far-reaching, coordinated social resistance mechanism is imperative. The conscious civil society demands the immediate implementation of the following measures:
1. Zero Tolerance policy at drug transit routes and continuous, uncompromising crackdowns.
2. Mandatory formulation and implementation of a ‘Child Protection Policy’ in every educational and religious institution.
3. Establishing fearless and confidential grievance mechanisms (**Complaint Boxes/Helplines**) for children.
4. Cultivating moral and humanitarian values from within the family, extended into primary education.
5. Ensuring exemplary, swift justice regardless of the political or social identity of the perpetrator.
The Time to Protect the Future is Now
Child abuse is not just an isolated crime; it is akin to breaking the backbone of a nation. A child subjected to severe trauma during childhood is scarred psychologically for life, severely undermining the nation’s future human resources.
To sustain Bangladesh as a safe and humane state, the government, society, families, and religious institutions must unite on a single platform. Ensuring the safety of children is not the responsibility of a single entity; it is a collective moral obligation of the entire society. Action must be taken to stand against this social degradation before time runs out.
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The Writer:
Maksuda Lisa: Senior Journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
