Time for a children’s commission? 

Six-year-old Muntaha Aktar Jerin went missing on 3 November, the day she stepped outside in the afternoon to play with other children. Eight days later, her lifeless body was discovered in a pond with injuries and a rope around her neck. 

Muntaha was murdered by her former home tutor, Marzia Akhter Sumi, with the help of Marzia's family. The tutor did it out of resentment after being dismissed from her job. 

The Muntaha murder case, from the moment news broke of her disappearance, caught the nation's attention. But the grim reality is that this is just one of numerous such instances. And most others, unfortunately, go unnoticed. 

According to statistics from Ain o Salish Kendra, 454 children were murdered from January to September this year. Among them, 77 were aged 0 to 6 years, and 267 were aged 13 to 18. Additionally, 521 more children were subjected to violence during the same period.

Meanwhile, according to the Human Rights Commission's report, child rape increased by 91% in October 2024 compared to September. Nearly 74% of the total incidents of child rape occurred in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions. 

Child labour is also very common in our country, and so is violence against child labourers. 

Last month police rescued a 13-year-old domestic worker named Kalpana from a house in the capital's Bashundhara residential area during a raid. The child, who had been severely tortured, was found with four of her teeth pulled out and her body covered in burns and bruises. 

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) National Child Labour Survey 2022, 3.5 million children are engaged in labour, showing a 3% increase from the 2013 survey. Additionally, the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) reported that 20 child workers lost their lives in 2023 due to violence at their workplaces.

So, it is clear that while children are considered the backbone of the nation, we are failing to protect them. The underlying causes of this crisis may be multifaceted, but the root issue is quite straightforward: Experts assert that safeguarding children has never been a genuine priority on the national agenda. 

The approach of past governments has been simple: they might do little for the general population, but they do even less for minors because children don't influence political outcomes.

Gawher Nayeem Wahra, former Child Protection Officer at UNICEF

To address this critical issue, it is high time that a separate commission—and eventually a dedicated ministry—be established for children.

Gawher Nayeem Wahra, former Child Protection Officer at UNICEF, lamented the systemic neglect of children, noting that individuals aged 0 to 18 comprise around 45% of the population but receive little attention. "They don't vote, so their interests are ignored," Wahra said.

"The approach of past governments has been simple: they might do little for the general population, but they do even less for minors because children don't influence political outcomes," he added.

He also indicated the state's hypocrisy at play in this regard. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989 and since then almost every government in the world -  195 countries  - has committed to try their best to ensure children's rights and respect all the children of the world.

Bangladesh was one of the first two countries in Asia, and overall one of the first 10 countries across the world, to ratify the CRC in August 1990. Its ratification ensures a violence-free environment for all children. 

"However, in practice, we have yet to see significant progress toward ensuring such an environment. In fact, I would dare to say there hasn't even been the slightest effort," he remarked.

What's even more troubling, according to Wahra, is the lack of recognition for children's needs within their own families, let alone educational and other important institutions. 

"Decisions are often made without considering the necessities of children," he said, pointing out a shocking example: 21 children in Dhaka have died in bathrooms or toilets in recent years. These deaths have been labelled as mere accidents, but they are rooted in ignorance and neglect of basic child safety.

Salma Akhter, a Professor of Sociology at Dhaka University, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the absence of children's voices in national policy making. 

"Nowadays we are seeing numerous public seminars and discussions, but very little focus on children. Even when they do, children themselves are rarely involved, leaving their voices unheard and their needs unmet," she said.

She also pointed out several key reasons behind the rise of child violence in recent times. Foremost among them is the rise in violent behaviour across society, fuelled in part by social media and mainstream films that often glorify violence.

Additionally, the weakening of familial bonds is playing a significant role, with its impact manifesting in multiple ways.

"Today, both parents often need to work outside the home, leaving children in the care of house helps. They, coming from disadvantaged backgrounds often marked by violence, may unknowingly replicate the same behaviour towards children. Meanwhile, parents, exhausted and frustrated at the end of the day, may also take out their stress on their children," she explained.

She further pointed out the growing tolerance toward child violence. "In the past, if a child was being mistreated by their parents, other family members, neighbours or bystanders would step in. Now, it has become so normalised that people rarely intervene," Salma observed.

Wahra believes that the lack of serious attention to children's needs and issues is also evident in the absence of a dedicated ministry for children, even after so many years.

"The ministry is combined with women and children, but the majority of the focus is on women. This clearly indicates that children's issues are not a priority," he said.

As a result, there has been growing support for the creation of a separate ministry for children. 

Last month, Manusher Jonno Foundation, a prominent non-governmental organisation in Bangladesh focused on human rights and governance, called on the interim government to urgently establish a separate commission dedicated to addressing child-related issues.

"The focus on children's issues is often overshadowed within the combined ministry for women and children. The discrimination and violence of women, which are also very high in our country, naturally get much of the importance," said Wasiur Rahman Tonmoy, Senior Coordinator of the Programme at Manusher Jonno Foundation. 

He suggested that if there were a separate directorate dedicated to children, or if the issue were not politically leveraged, these concerns could be more effectively addressed.

"We understand that the interim government is currently occupied with various reform initiatives. Even so, children's issues should also come under consideration. They have already established several commissions, and as a starting point for addressing children's issues, they could form a commission dedicated to children. This would not only ensure their protection but also prioritise their education and other critical needs," he added.