1,700 murdered, 15,000 children reported missing in six months: Shibir President
Chattra Shibir President Nurul Islam delivers a speech at a reception ceremony for students who achieved GPA-5 in the SSC and equivalent examinations in Chattogram. Agamir Somoy.
The murder of child Ishrat Shahriar Apratim in Cumilla has shaken the conscience of Bangladesh, said Nurul Islam Saddam, central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir.
He also highlighted what he described as a severe deterioration in the country’s law and order situation.
He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at a reception for students who achieved GPA-5 in the SSC and equivalent examinations. The event was held at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers in Chattogram city.
Chattogram Metropolitan South Chhatra Shibir organised the event.
Speaking as the chief guest, Nurul Islam said, “Yesterday (Saturday)’s incident has shaken the conscience of the entire country. I am referring to Opratim’s murder. Some of those involved are believed to be friends from his neighbourhood or people older than him. It is initially suspected that the incident was related to an iPhone. He was assaulted in an attempt to take the iPhone from him. The assault was severe, resulting in his death. Apratim has left us prematurely. I do not know how his parents will carry on.”
Describing the country’s law and order situation, he said, “How many incidents like Opratim’s have taken place in Bangladesh? Over the past six months, 15,000 children have gone missing. Of them, the whereabouts of 2,000 children are still unknown. These are figures from government agencies. They account only for cases reported in newspapers and other media. We have no idea how many cases go unreported. In reality, such incidents are far more numerous. Only those who have lost a child or a sibling can truly understand the pain of loss.”
“We are living in an unsafe society where an average of nine people are dying every day. These are not natural deaths. Over the past six months, 1,700 people have been murdered. We know about the murder of Ramisa. Her killers were brought to justice because people across Bangladesh raised their voices over the incident. How many other Ramisas have quietly disappeared from our lives? People in Bangladesh have no record of them. No one speaks about them, and their stories do not appear in the media.”
Commenting on what he described as an unsafe social environment, he said, “Certain problems have been allowed to fester in our society. Among them, drugs and juvenile gangs are major concerns. According to government figures, at least four million young people are addicted to drugs. They are forming small groups like juvenile gangs and engaging in power struggles among themselves in an attempt to survive. They are killing one another.”
Addressing the government, the Shibir president said, “July showed us what happens when the people’s backs are against the wall. You came to power through deception. You have not implemented the July Charter. You are not carrying out constitutional reforms. You are not undertaking the fundamental reforms of the state in accordance with the referendum. You have not provided any explanation as to why these reforms are not being implemented. You merely say that you will follow them to the letter. By delaying matters, you are placing your own people in various departments and subordinate offices. There is no reason to believe that the younger generation does not understand what is happening. Remember, just as the people can vote someone into power, they can also remove them from power.”
The event was chaired by Maimunul Islam Mamun, president of Chattogram Metropolitan South Chhatra Shibir, and moderated by its secretary, Rakibul Islam.
Professor Dr Kazi Mohammad Barkat Ali of the Department of Geography at the University of Chittagong, city Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Nazrul Islam, and Shibir’s central law affairs secretary Shamim Hossain were also present.
