Fear and anxiety of parenthood: When children's safety no longer feels certain
According to Bangladesh Police data, April 2026 recorded 2,011 Woman and Child Repression cases filed at police stations nationwide – the highest monthly figure in the past nine months since July 2025.
"As the father of a daughter, I truly feel helpless today."
This one line, posted by a netizen after news broke of the brutal killing of seven-year-old Ramisa Akter in Dhaka's Pallabi area, sums up the fear and helplessness of parents nationwide.
As the killing triggered widespread outrage, many kept questioning whether children are truly safe even within familiar surroundings and whether such repeated incidents of violence are reshaping how parents raise and protect their children.
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"Where do the children go?"
"Who do they spend time with?"
"Who are the people living around them?"
These are no longer just random questions the parents ask, but rather a reflection of the collective psyche of the time.
Talking to The Business Standard, a teacher and mother of a child said the social environment no longer feels as safe as it once did.
"In our childhood, we played a lot outside. Our parents often did not even know where we were going. At that time, perhaps our surroundings were comparatively safe. But now in urban society, we do not even know properly who lives in the next flat; we have no idea about their family background either," she said.
Regarding the security of her own child, she added, "Now I cannot easily trust anyone outside my own family. I do not even let my child play alone in the next flat. If they go to play somewhere, I go with them."
For many parents, the fear now extends beyond isolated incidents into daily life – from accompanying children to school to closely monitoring where they go and who they interact with.
Another guardian told TBS that children can no longer be left alone anywhere or with anyone. "There was a time when we went to neighbours' houses, the environment then was not like this, and these incidents also happened less. Lately, these incidents have increased a lot. Since we cannot control these incidents, I feel guardians have to be much more cautious," the parent said.
"In the case of my child, when going to school, either the father or the mother will definitely go there with them."
The fear and helplessness parents feel are not unfounded, as there has been a sharp rise in cases involving violence against women and children.
According to Bangladesh Police data, April 2026 recorded 2,011 Woman and Child Repression cases filed at police stations nationwide – the highest monthly figure in the past nine months since July 2025. The figure marks a 35.4% increase from 1,485 cases in March.
Children among most vulnerable groups
Experts say violence against children often persists because children remain among the most vulnerable groups in society.
Zobaida Nasreen, professor at the Department of Anthropology at Dhaka University, said research into the social psychology of rapists found that children are frequently targeted because they are less able to resist or report abuse.
"Firstly, children are the most vulnerable in Bangladesh because they cannot tell anyone else about the abuse. Secondly, even if they tell, people do not want to believe it. Thirdly, they are falling victim to rape more by acquaintances – relatives, neighbours, teachers," she told TBS.
According to her, perpetrators often believe crimes against children are less likely to trigger serious consequences.
"Criminals think if they target a child, the matter will be less discussed, the possibility of punishment will be low, and in many cases, a case will not even be filed," Nasreen said.
She stressed that the responsibility cannot fall on parents alone.
"You cannot keep a child inside the house all day long. Therefore, from the family to the state, it must be identified in which places gaps exist, and an integrated role must be played," she said.
Md Rifat-ur-Rahman, assistant professor at the Department of Sociology at Rabindra University, said the country has been passing through a socially unstable period for several years.
"Since August 2024, the police force has been almost inactive. Due to the deterioration of law and order, the tendency among people to break the law has been constantly increasing," he said.
Referring to Ramisa's killing, he added, "As the father of a girl child, I myself also feel very helpless these days. My daughter studies two grades above Ramisa. Closing my eyes and thinking of Ramisa, fear and panic surround me for my own child."
He also said awareness among guardians has become increasingly important, particularly in densely populated urban areas where parents often know little about the people around them.
Rifat said the absence of swift punishment weakens deterrence and contributes to the recurrence of violent crimes. "If exemplary punishment for crime cannot be ensured within a quick time, the criminal propensity will increase," he said.
Dr Towhidul Haque, criminology expert and associate professor at the Institute of Social Welfare and Research at DU, said that incidents of violence against children are not only increasing in number but are also becoming more brutal.
Explaining the causes behind the rise in violence against children, he told TBS, first, lengthy judicial processes are a key factor. In many cases, years pass without justice being delivered.
Second, although laws have been enacted to prevent violence against children, the lack of proper enforcement has led to an increase in abuse and violence.
Towhidul further said that society is not child-friendly. "A common characteristic in our society is that children are subjected to abuse in the name of discipline; they are beaten, raped, and even killed after sexual assault."
In some cases, children are killed for witnessing illicit relationships or as revenge against adults. While the state has taken measures to ensure children's safety, it has failed to implement them properly, which contributes to the rise in violence, he said.
He added that to stop violence against children, trials must be completed swiftly, and exemplary punishment must be ensured so that others are deterred from committing such crimes.
Otherwise, offenders often wait for opportunities to find children alone or lure them with various temptations before abusing them.
Towhidul also stressed that family members must remain vigilant and teach children about right and wrong. They should always keep a close watch on children. However, in densely populated areas such as slums, it becomes difficult for families to fully carry out these responsibilities.
In such contexts, the state has the greatest responsibility and authority to ensure swift justice in cases of violence against children. Delays in justice allow offenders to go unpunished. Because of this, some families even say they do not expect justice, believing the state cannot deliver it — an extremely dangerous reaction, he warned.
Therefore, he urged the state to awaken to its responsibility and ensure the safety of all citizens, especially children. He added that laws alone are not enough; proper enforcement is essential to ensure safe living conditions for children.
But citizens' trust in the justice system keeps waning.
Cultural activist and theatre artist Kazi Roksana Ruma questioned why justice in cases involving violence against children often appears delayed.
"Will the state, by dilly-dallying over this trial, make us read the news of another Ramisa? Or will it give him the maximum punishment for child murder as soon as he confesses to the crime?" she wrote on her Facebook wall.
She also expressed concern over the growing sense of insecurity among women and children, saying, "How shall we survive in this state? We are not safe anywhere."
While speaking to the media today (20 May), Ramisa's father Abdul Hannan Molla expressed despair over the justice system.
"I do not want anything. You cannot ensure justice. You do not have any such record. You cannot. My daughter will not come back either," he said.
Collective responsibility and failure
Meanwhile, another parent, a private sector employee, said concerns over children's safety have altered how many parents now think about everyday life.
"Especially when we know that we are living in a terrifying time and a terrifying city – if both father and mother go to work, who will the child stay with? If they stay with some relative, or a neighbour, am I sure that they are safe there?"
He also said protecting children should not be viewed only as an individual family responsibility.
"We have a collective responsibility, not just for my child, but for everyone's child. If I rent a flat to someone in my building, I need to know or try to find out about them," he added.
Tanjir Rahman, another private sector employee who lives in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area with his family, said, "My elder brother has two daughters. He and his wife are now terrified for their children's safety."
"I have a five-year-old son. We try our best to shield him from inappropriate content online. But predators do not exist only on the internet; they also live among us," he said.
"I see this type of news [Ramisa's murder] every day, and it breaks my heart because, now that I am a father, I can imagine the pain those parents feel after losing their child. For my wife and me, our son's well-being and safety come first, always.
"We never let him out of our sight – whether in our building, neighbourhood, or even when visiting relatives, friends, or travelling somewhere. Because, after reading about such brutal and heartbreaking incidents involving children almost every day, we are constantly terrified. We try our best never to compromise our son's safety," he said.
"But this is no way to live in a society. The constant fear that something might happen to my child weighs heavily on our minds. I genuinely don't understand why our government repeatedly fails to deliver swift justice in such cases," Tanjir lamented.
He continued, "We are now teaching our son about the concept of good touch and bad touch. Such fear will never go away. With the rise of such crimes nationwide in recent times, all parents must become more conscious about their parenting and children's safety."
As public outrage over Ramisa's killing continues, many parents point out that the incident has once again forced them to confront a question they increasingly struggle to answer – whether children can still move through ordinary spaces without fear.
Addressing their concerns, experts say the issue will require not only stricter law enforcement and faster justice, but also broader social awareness and collective responsibility.
Fixing society is necessary alongside talking about state policies, policing and the justice system, they stress.
Finally, it is worth noting what one netizen wrote about the murder of Ramisa: "This is not just the tragedy of a family; this is a reflection of the failure of the entire society."
TBS's Tanzia TD, Tamid Jaeef, and Subrata Chanda contributed to this article.
