Rights bodies blame impunity, violent political climate

Lack of rule of law, failure to mete out exemplary punishment and current practice of cadre-based politics which requires demonstration of power are some of the main causes for increasing and brutish violence against children.

Making such observations, members of Child Rights Advocacy Coalition, 10 national and international human rights organisations, at a press conference in Dhaka Reporter's Unity yesterday demanded quick and transparent trials of incidents of killings and torture on children.

"Violence against children has increased both in terms of numbers and types," said Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a coalition member.

She noted that people perceive underprivileged children as the most vulnerable and that it was easy to get away after committing any crime against them.

Sultana Kamal referred to the shooting of 10-year-old boy Sourav Mia allegedly by a ruling party lawmaker, Manzurul Islam Liton, at Sundarganj of Gaibandha on October 2.

She questioned how an elected representative could do such a thing in a drunken state.

"The first question that arises is how can such a person become an elected representative," she said, demanding that his membership in parliament be terminated. Sultana Kamal also criticised police's role in not having made any arrest yet. "We are concerned that he might never be found," she said.

Echoing her concern about police's failure in arresting Manzurul even though his licensed guns were surrendered at Sundarganj Police Station, Nasima Akhter Joly, secretary of National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, said, "Are lawmakers superior citizens? Do they fall under a law separate from the one that applies to us?"

Emranul Huq Chowdhury, chairperson of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, alleged that Sourav's family was being threatened and offered money to negotiate with Manzurul and withdraw the attempted murder case.

The allegation of national cricketer Shahadat Hossain and his wife torturing a child domestic help also came up. The coalition welcomed Bangladesh Cricket Board's decision to suspend him.

Shamsul Alam, deputy director of Child Rights Governance, Save the Children Bangladesh, read out the coalition's written statement.

Quoting  ASK statistics, it said 37 were mentally and physically tortured in schools and workplaces in August and September 2015. The coalition demanded raising awareness at national level and formation of a cell under the law ministry to monitor the time the trials take, ensure transparency and to keep the trials from being influenced by the defence.