Just a few days back I read a news Item in The Daily Star that 32-pes-sons have been captured In connection with "Wednesday s (June 25) violent Incident" in Badda. It is because of such Incidents that we (1 and boys like myself) are afraid of going out or are not allowed by our parents to roam around in the streets, which are at present so very insecure.

I am rather thin and not physically very strong for my age. It is perhaps because of that reason that my parents think more than twice before allowing me to walk in the streets of Banani alone. At my age I am supposed to go outdoors and spend my time (allocated for fun) playing in the playgrounds or open fields. However. now for fear of kidnappers and such miscreants. 1 am confined to my 5O-feet-long driveway within the gate for my play or exercise.

My father often tells me that he. in his school days, used to walk to the playground three miles away everyday from home just to play football. I wonder whether I could walk such a long distance alone even once without risking my life. How do I know that while I am walking, someone will not stick a knife or gun in my back? How do I know that a car will not pull up and a man will not come out of it and hold a chloroformed cloth on my mouth to haul me off? There are so many stories nowadays of children being kidnapped for selling their organs.

Kidnapping and such other criminal activities were present in Bangladesh also in the past.

But recently such criminal activity Chas increased so phe~, nomerially than nobody aesms-J to be able to do anything about, it.

Just a few days back, an adolescent girl was kidnapped by two women from a place near to Jahanglmagar University campus in Savar. She was made un-econscious and taken somewhere far away from Savar. When the girl regained consciousness. she 'shouted for help. The people around were attracted by her voice and the girl was luckily saved. The miscreants were also caught. There are some cases where the victim is not so lucky. The son of a £iard in the same university d not come back from school one day. It is rumoured that his dead body was later discovered and the head was missing.

These are just a two cases which occurred within the past fortnight. Hundreds of such cases are occurring throughout the country every year.

I am confident that the police authorities are tying their best to deal with the situation. However, some of the policemen are alleged to be rather dishonest. They are often blamed of accepting bribes and letting lawbreakers get away. As a result. the true criminals are often not caught and they keep on doing their criminal activities. On the other hand, innocent people are sometimes caught on suspicion, without any proof, and are sent to jail. Sometimes they are beaten to death by the "Janagan” on rumour and suspicion. This is. however, not the "Janagan's" fault. They. too. are scared of the uncountable num-

ber of terrorists and child lifters and would grab at any - * hance tu Catch Them and get rid" - them without trying to ascertain whether the suspected "terrorist" is guilty or not. Although the government says that no one should take the law in his own hands, yet people become highly emotional and cruel (as well as 'blbekheen') when they suspect somebody to be a criminal or child lifter.

So. what will happen to me? Some of us are too scared to venture out into the streets (and I don't blame them either) and so remain Ghorua' and rather unsociable. Some of us run away from home not being able to remain caged up any longer and then resort to dishonest ways for a living. I do not belong to any one of these types. Yes, I do feel frustrated because I am imprisoned in between the four walls of my house. But 1 am fortunate enough to have parents who can afford a car. which can take me to places without my having to walk to any destination. But what of those who are not lucky enough to ride a car? What will become of them?

I shall leave the answer to those who have taken the time and patience to read my thoughts, and to the authorities concerned In the government. Bangladesh belongs to all of us each, and everyone of us has the right to walk in the streets without having to worry about the safety and security of our lives.

M Saninur Rahman

Class IX

Sunbeams Senior School