ASK raises deep concern over children’s safety and security
Logo of Ain O Salish Kendra. Collected.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over the recovery of the body of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apratim after he went missing in Cumilla.
The human rights organisation expressed its concern in a statement issued on Sunday. ASK Senior Coordinator Abu Ahmed Faijul Kabir sent the statement to the media.
In the statement, ASK said recent incidents across the country involving the recovery of children’s bodies after they went missing, as well as rape, murder, torture and other forms of violence, have raised serious concerns about children’s lives and safety in the country.
According to statistics collected by ASK, the bodies of 36 children were recovered after they had gone missing between January and August 2026. During the same period, ASK recorded the deaths of a total of 254 children in various incidents.
Meanwhile, according to data from the Police Headquarters, 15,717 children were reported missing between January and July. Of them, 13,679 were rescued while 2,038 remain missing. However, police have also said the figures may contain discrepancies because information on missing persons is not always updated later.
ASK said protecting children’s lives, safety and dignity is a fundamental responsibility of the state. Effective measures must be taken to fulfil this responsibility in accordance with the Constitution, the National Child Policy, the Children Act and Bangladesh’s international commitments.
It also said it was essential to establish an integrated and regularly updated national information system on missing children. This would help provide an accurate picture of children who have gone missing, those who have been recovered and those who remain missing, while also identifying patterns of risk and enabling effective preventive measures.
ASK Executive Director Tahmina Rahman said, “When a child’s body is recovered after the child goes missing, the incident cannot simply be treated as an isolated crime. How the child went missing, what steps the relevant authorities took to rescue the child, whether there was any negligence or lack of coordination, and who was involved in the crime—all these issues must be subject to an impartial and effective investigation.”
ASK has called for prompt, impartial and transparent investigations into every recent case involving children who went missing and were later found dead, including Opratim’s case, and for those responsible to be brought to justice. The organisation also demanded accountability for any officials whose negligence or failure to perform their duties contributed to delays in rescuing missing children.
ASK said the recovery of a child’s body after the child goes missing can never be considered a normal situation. It stressed that a rapid and effective response by state institutions, coordinated preventive measures and accountability are essential to ensure a safe environment for children.
