Dhaka, June 5: A troubling decline in social security indicators is being reported in Bangladesh. Incidents of child abuse, rape, domestic violence, and sexual harassment in educational institutions are making headlines with alarming frequency.
A recent report claims that the surge in crime is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of drug use, a decline in moral values, weakened social oversight, and a culture of evading punishment.
According to the report, social analysts and psychologists believe that this “horrific” rise in crime is motivated by four major factors: widespread substance abuse, erosion of social and moral values, weak social control, and a lack of effective action against offenders.
The report from the Pressenza International Press Agency states that the availability of drugs in Bangladesh has reached unprecedented levels. From urban areas to remote rural regions, substances like yaba, cannabis, phensedyl, and the highly dangerous ‘ice’ (crystal meth) are rapidly spreading, ensnaring a significant number of youth and adolescents.
Experts indicate that addiction severely impacts an individual’s decision-making abilities and self-control. This fosters a violent and distorted mindset within society, making women and children easy targets for criminals.
The report highlights that most cases of sexual violence and robbery in Bangladesh are found to be directly or indirectly linked to substance abuse.
Despite periodic campaigns by law enforcement agencies, a complete crackdown on drug trafficking has not been achieved. This is attributed to a strong and organized criminal network, with suspicions of collusion among influential societal groups.
The report also notes that incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse of children are now emerging from places traditionally considered safe. Cases have been revealed in madrasas, orphanages, residential schools, and religious institutions, raising serious concerns.
Experts emphasize that whether the offender is a teacher, imam, politician, doctor, or an ordinary citizen, their identity should solely be that of a criminal in the eyes of the law. Society must move away from the tendency to protect offenders based on power, position, or institutional identity.
The report warns that if Bangladesh aims to remain a safe and humane nation, the government, society, families, and religious institutions must collaborate. Protecting children is not the responsibility of a single entity but a collective moral obligation of the entire society. The report stresses the urgent need for concrete measures to combat this social decline.
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