Anger spills into the streets over Mirpur child’s ‘rape, murder’ as citizens blame ‘social degradation’

The rise in violence is a direct reflection of widespread social degradation, eminent citizens say

Outrage and protests have kept pouring in following the brutal “rape and murder” of a 7-year-old child in Dhaka’s Pallabi, with citizens coming down to the streets to form human chains and eminent personalities blaming "social degradation" for growing public insecurity.

Students and parents formed a human chain under the banner of the “Guardians and Students Network” at the gates of the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Azimpur campus on Thursday, demanding swift justice for the victim Ramisa Akter.

Speaking at the rally, guardians and students argued that a long-standing "culture of impunity" has emboldened perpetrators to commit such horrific crimes against children.

The Social Resistance Committee, a platform comprising 71 women, human rights, and development organisations, issued a formal statement condemning the incident.

The media statement, signed by Fauzia Moslem on behalf of the coalition, expressed concern over the vulnerabilities faced by women and minors.

Another group has issued a joint statement through Saleh Ahmed, general secretary of the Sammilita Samajik Andolan, voicing deep anxiety and anger over the increasing violence across the country.

"We, the ordinary citizens of Bangladesh, are expressing deep concern and outrage over the rising violence, child rape, murder, oppression, and the overarching sense of insecurity in public life," the statement read.

The citizens highlighted a disturbing surge in such crimes, pointing out that at least four young girls had been raped and murdered across the country in the last seven days alone.

"These violent incidents, which are a direct reflection of widespread social degradation, are creating a state of panic among the public," the statement added.

"The prolonged culture of impunity will only continue to embolden criminals."

The signatories to the statement include prominent rights activists and academics such as Sultana Kamal, Rasheda K Choudhury, Ramendu Majumdar, Syed Anwar Husain, Khushi Kabir, Nur Mohammad Talukder, and MM Akash.

Mohammed Mojibur Rahman Monju, chairman of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, sent an official letter to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday, urging state intervention.

"I have sent an appeal to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman by post," Monju told bdnews24.com on Thursday afternoon.

In the letter, the AB Party chairman requested the premier to personally visit the grieving family of the victim in Pallabi, suggesting he take opposition political leaders along with him to deliver a unified national stance against such heinous crimes.

The wave of protests follows the recovery of a seven-year-old girl's body from Dhaka's Pallabi on Tuesday.

According to the police, primary findings indicate that the child was subjected to rape before being murdered.

Law-enforcing officers have already arrested a man named Sohel Rana and his wife, the victim’s neighbour, as key suspects in the case.