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BITTER TRUTH

Societal awakening imperative

A long-term solution lies in an attack mounted at every level upon the conditions that breed despair and violence. We need to analyse what went wrong for the millions of under-privileged children trapped in the festering malaise of poverty and joblessness. Most of these kids and youngsters are dropouts from schools.

MD. ASADULLAH KHAN
THE grisly killing of Sayma Nazneen (18) and her mother Rizia Begum (50) by Sayma's spurned suitor Rai han has stunned the nation. Stalking and sexual harassment have introduced another form of criminality like killing of near and dear ones of the victim. The question is how this alarming trend could come about and how the state, society and parents look at the problem. Youngsters, not only in the urban areas but also in villages, are taking to the streets with acid bottles and cans of petrol to avenge refusal of their sexual advances from the girls they targeted. The apathy of the society to this escalating crisis and failure of the state to address the problem are most appalling.
Newspaper reports, quoting the president of the Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, revealed that 338 women fell victims to different forms of violence during November 2013. Besides, 30 women committed suicide to escape the horror of abuse.
What these barbaric actions have made clear is that these mastans are having a field day under the very nose of the law enforcers while innocent men and women suffer not only at the hands of these goons but also at the hands of the authorities mandated to protect them.
What is chilling is that many of these young criminals show no remorse or conscience even after committing such horrendous crimes. Raihan's interrogation by the police revealed what a hardened criminal he has become at the prime of his life! The reason is that children do not get the nurtur- ing, guidance and supervision necessary to instill a set of values and a proper code of behaviour from the formative years. But a life of privilege can also be corrupting. Children who have everything given to them may come to believe that they are entitled to anything, and that they are above their fellow human beings and above the law. And yet their busy parents may not be giving pampered teens what they need most: attention and supervision. "Neglect is abuse," says a social scientist of the country.
In many cases, such derailed youngsters learn about sex and other immoral and unethical activities from one another, and look to their peers for a sense of belonging and approval. But the groups' influence is often treacherous. In many cases, violence is fueled by drugs.
There is no denying that the present crisis and disorder in the society stem from lack of political leadership and a moral vacuum. There has been serious erosion of values, which has a trickledown effect in the society. Citizens have not spoken out strongly against this sorry state of things because they are afraid of the consequences. We share the blame, but that does not tell us how to proceed and seek a remedy for the deep-seated malaise that has spread across the nation.
What seems clear, if only because a lot of experts agree on it, is that poverty, joblessness, lack of education and crime are to a large extent associated with the breakdown of social norms. It can hardly be overemphasised that political leaders, as well as the government, must themselves practice and teach the values of work, morality, ethics, thrift, marriage and personal responsibility to millions of suffering citizens. But many people, especially in urban areas, are deeply ambivalent about these homely virtues.
Curing this malaise is very difficult because the kids are lured by the dazzling and tempting life projected by the media. All efforts by the society or the government are going to be a lost
battle because, while we crack down on street crime, most of the godfathers go unpunished.
A long-term solution lies in an attack mounted at every level upon the conditions that breed despair and violence. We need to analyse what went wrong for the millions of under-privileged children trapped in the festering malaise of poverty and joblessness. Most of these kids and youngsters are dropouts from schools. School education could not interest them and the parents cannot afford to keep them in schools.
The rot stems from dilapidated buildings, overcrowded class rooms, growing teacher shortage, dearth of qualified and committed teachers, faulty and incongruous syllabus and, last but not least, the spread of drugs in schools and colleges.
How did all this come about? Other than poverty, loosening of family ties and, in some cases, sudden affluence of parents encourage criminality. Parents' failure to meet the demands of their children for a life more dazzling and enticing, experienced through association with friends who are rich, has created a split in the family ties and erosion of authority over the wards. The result has been disastrous. Kids are out to grab the means, even by killing, to satisfy their desires.
The country is under siege from all directions. Hatred and vengeance have consumed the society so much that rival parties have gone berserk and are gunning down opponents to establish their 'supremacy.' These kids, just 18 to 25 years old, have become so hardened in the prime of their life! If we look into their eyes, we can see the cold, blank stares void of most moral values. No wonder, a wave of discontent that has threatened the nation, and the sense of gloom that has descended over the society are very much pervasive.
The writer is a columnist of The Daily Star.
E-mail: aukhandk@gmail.com