SM Mizanur Rahman :
Child abduction has marked a sharp rise in recent days creating panic among the people across the country.
The prime reason of kidnapping is to realise ransom, followed by murder. Once the ransom is paid, the victims are killed so that their abductors cannot be identified, said officials of human rights organisations.
According to the information gathered by human rights organisations, in January 2016, at least 29 kids were murdered. Of them, four were murdered after abduction, bodies of six children were recovered after missing and three killed by their relatives. The rest 16 kids were killed either by criminals or their classmates, the human rights organisation added. Apart from the common people, leaders and workers of different political parties were killed and made disappeared.
Abdus Shahid Mahmood, director of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, and Mostafa Sohel, executive director of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha, voicing deep concern about the ‘sharp rise’ in abduction said that the criminals in most cases remained untouched or got bail due to poor chargesheet, other offenders were thus encouraged to commit such heinous crimes.
They said, an international risk-consulting firm, UK-based Control Risks, has put Bangladesh 7th among the top 10 countries where kidnappings are most frequent. “It’s a matter of concern and shame for the nation.”
“Children are increasingly at risk of being kidnapped,” Abdus Shahid Mahmood said, adding records showing an alarming rise in child abductions across the country.
He said most kidnappings were committed with the participation of close relatives, friends and neighbours.
“Creating public awareness about risks to children would prevent opportunities for kidnappings. It was easier for a relative or a friend than a stranger to have access to a child. In most cases, the children are lured away with chocolates or food,” he added.
Mostafa Sohel said, people are worried about the incidents, as its position was going down in different international indexes.
“The families of the victims claim that from the time the members of law enforcement agencies are making the arrests since then the victims are disappeared or their bodies are later found,” Mostafa Sohel said.
The latest victim M Abdullah, 11, a class five student, whose body was recovered from a plastic drum at a house in Mugarchar area in Keraniganj Upazila four days after his abduction.
Even after payment of the Tk two lakh as ransom through bKash, the criminals murdered him. It triggered resentment and concern among the locals.
Earlier on January 30, bodies of three children were recovered from Tangail and Rangpur. All three kids had been kidnapped and were later murdered.
The dead are Shakil Miah, 11, son of Delwar Hossain; Imran Hossain, 12, son of Abu Bakkar from Char Chowhat village in Dhamrai upazila of Dhaka; and Rahimul Islam, Rawnak, 4, son of Mosaddek Hossain Ranga from Adarshapara area in Rangpur city.
On Wednesday, local people staged demonstration and set fire to a house owned by the main accused Motahar Hossain in connection with Abdullah murder and abduction cases at village Mugarchar.
Hundreds of people took to the streets, holding banners and photos of the victim M Abdullah who had been kidnapped and killed – as they chanted “Death to the Motahar and his gang members.”
“We came out of the street to raise our voices for justice and to condemn the act of abduction and murder of boy in our locality,” said one of the organisers of the protest.
When Food Minister Quamrul Islam went to Badal Miah, father of victim M Abdullah, at Mugarchar village to convey his sympathy to bereaved family, he assured them of submitting charge sheet within 15 days.
Slain Abdullah’s father Badal Miah and mother Rina Begum demanded justice.
“We want punishment to the criminals, who abducted and murdered our son,” victim’s parent told the minister.
